Prevalence Trends in Chlamydial Infections Among Young Women Entering the National Job Training Program, 1998–2004

OBJECTIVES: To assess the trends and risk factors of chlamydial infections in disadvantaged women aged 16 to 24 years entering a national job training program. GOAL: To assess the impact of chlamydia screening program on chlamydia trend. STUDY DESIGN: The authors calculated the prevalence of chlamydia by demographic and geographic characteristics from 106,377 women who were screened from 1998 through 2004. RESULTS: Chlamydia prevalence was inversely associated with age, decreasing from 12.7% in women aged 16 to 17 years to 6.6% in women aged 22 to 24 years. Blacks had the highest prevalence (13.1%). Chlamydia prevalence significantly decreased from 11.7% in 1998 to 10.0% in 2003 and then slightly increased to 10.3% in 2004. After direct standardization and adjustment for the laboratory test type, a similar trend was observed by age and race/ethnicities. CONCLUSIONS: Among disadvantaged women aged 16 to 24 years entering a national job training program, the chlamydia prevalence and racial disparities in prevalence were consistently high from 1998 to 2004, especially among younger black women.