A study coordinated by researchers at APPC demonstrates the effectiveness of community-based screening to combat the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in high-risk adolescents. The study found that African-American youth ages 14 to 17 who were identified as positive for at least one of three STIs subsequently reduced their number of sexual partners and practiced safer sex with ongoing partners. Nevertheless, youth who tested negative did not change their sexual risk behavior, indicating that more than just screening youth for STIs will be needed to avert transmission of STIs in high-risk communities. The research was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and recently appeared online in the Journal of Adolescent Health.
