The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
The impact of community-based sexually transmitted infection screening results on sexual risk behaviors of African American adolescents.
To examine the effect of a community-based sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening program on sexual risk behavior among African American adolescents. We hypothesized that adolescents testing positive for an STI and receiving post-test counseling would reduce risky sexual practices, whereas STI-negative adolescents would show little or no change in protective sexual behavior after screening. ⋯ Community-based STI screening can help to reduce sexual risk behavior in youth who test positive for STIs. Alternative approaches will be needed to reduce risk behavior in youth who test negative but who are nevertheless at risk for acquiring an STI.