Sexually transmitted disease among adolescents in the juvenile justice system of the District of Columbia.

Disenfranchised youth are known to be at high risk for sexually transmitted infections. A study was conducted to validate the screening for sexually transmitted disease (STD) among adolescents under court jurisdiction, to characterize variables associated with STD among this group, and to contrast and compare the characteristics of STD among incarcerated youth as opposed to those in alternative court-sponsored facilities. Sixty teenagers referred to an outpatient adolescent clinic for court-ordered physical examination were tested for infection with syphilis. Fifty-four were tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia. The overall rates for gonorrhea and chlamydia among the group were an identical 9.2%. Six percent of the study population were diagnosed with syphilis infection. While only 17% of the youths were female, they accounted for over half of all infections with gonorrhea and chlamydia. All cases of sexually transmitted bacterial infections were found in youth residing in alternative court-sponsored facilities.