Opportunities for chlamydia control in the era of healthcare reform: lessons from two decades of innovative family planning care

Womens Health (Lond). 2013 Jan;9(1):25-38. doi: 10.2217/whe.12.68.

Abstract

In the USA, family planning clinics are primary providers of reproductive healthcare to young women and their male partners and have long provided quality sexually transmitted infection (STI) care and prevention. Chlamydia, an easily treatable STI that can lead to serious adverse outcomes if untreated, is the most common bacterial STI in the USA, and annual chlamydia screening is recommended for sexually active women aged ≤25 years. As early adopters of routine screening, family planning clinics screen >50% of all care-seeking eligible women for chlamydia, performing better than private sector healthcare plans. To achieve high levels of quality care, family planning clinics have been leaders in implementing evidence-based care delivery and developing prevention innovations. As national healthcare reform is implemented in the USA and categorical STI clinics close, public-sector demand on family planning clinics will increase.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Chlamydia Infections / epidemiology
  • Chlamydia Infections / prevention & control*
  • Family Planning Services / organization & administration*
  • Female
  • Health Care Reform / organization & administration*
  • Health Promotion / organization & administration*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Sex Education / organization & administration*
  • Sex Factors
  • Sexual Behavior / statistics & numerical data*
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Women's Health