Katie Plax1, Jane Garbutt, Gaurav N Kaushik. 1. All of the authors are with the Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Jane Garbutt is also with the Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We investigated the development of and service utilization at Supporting Positive Opportunities with Teens (SPOT)-a community-based health and social service facility in St. Louis, Missouri, for youths that focuses on increasing HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing. METHODS: We identified the US-based, co-located youth health and social service models that guided the establishment of the SPOT. We analyzed the first 5 years (2008-2013) of service delivery and utilization data. RESULTS: During the study period, the SPOT provided services for 8233 youths in 37,480 visits. The 5 most utilized services included HIV and STI screening, food, transportation, contraception, and case management. A total of 9812 gonorrhea and chlamydia screenings revealed 1379 (14.1%) cases of chlamydia and 437 (4.5%) cases of gonorrhea, and 5703 HIV tests revealed 59 HIV infections (1.0%); 93.0% of patients found to have an STI were treated within a 5-day window. CONCLUSIONS: Co-locating health and social services in informal community settings attracts high-risk youths to utilize services and can prove instrumental in reducing STI burden in this population.
OBJECTIVES: We investigated the development of and service utilization at Supporting Positive Opportunities with Teens (SPOT)-a community-based health and social service facility in St. Louis, Missouri, for youths that focuses on increasing HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing. METHODS: We identified the US-based, co-located youth health and social service models that guided the establishment of the SPOT. We analyzed the first 5 years (2008-2013) of service delivery and utilization data. RESULTS: During the study period, the SPOT provided services for 8233 youths in 37,480 visits. The 5 most utilized services included HIV and STI screening, food, transportation, contraception, and case management. A total of 9812 gonorrhea and chlamydia screenings revealed 1379 (14.1%) cases of chlamydia and 437 (4.5%) cases of gonorrhea, and 5703 HIV tests revealed 59 HIV infections (1.0%); 93.0% of patients found to have an STI were treated within a 5-day window. CONCLUSIONS: Co-locating health and social services in informal community settings attracts high-risk youths to utilize services and can prove instrumental in reducing STI burden in this population.
Authors: Danice K Eaton; Laura Kann; Steve Kinchen; Shari Shanklin; Katherine H Flint; Joseph Hawkins; William A Harris; Richard Lowry; Tim McManus; David Chyen; Lisa Whittle; Connie Lim; Howell Wechsler Journal: MMWR Surveill Summ Date: 2012-06-08
Authors: Fabiana Schuelter-Trevisol; Maricele Almeida da Silva; Dikson Claudino; Helena Caetano Gonçalves E Silva; Chaiana Esmeraldino Mendes Marcon Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2015-09-17 Impact factor: 9.308