The Stop Chlamydia Project Project
Project Goal
To address the need for better Chlamydia surveillance, treatment, and prevention efforts among AI/AN populations, we are collaborating with the Indian Health Service, with support from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to implement the “Stop Chlamydia - Use Azithromycin Program”. The program makes azithromycin, a relatively new and expensive, but effective treatment for Chlamydia, to participating clinics. Azithromycin is a single dose therapy that can be administered on site at the time of diagnosis.
Contact Information
If your clinic is interested in participating in the Stop Chlamydia - Use Azithromycin Program or if you would like additional information on the program, please contact: The EpiCenter, (503-228-4185).
Did you know that....
Chlamydia is the most commonly reported infectious disease in the United States and may be one of the mot dangerous sexually transmitted diseases among women today.
(Tracking the Hidden Epidemics: Trends in STDs in the U.S. 2000 (CDC) )
Among American Indians and Alaska Natives in the Pacific Northwest (ID, OR, & WA), the rate of Chlamydia in 1996 was nearly 3 times the rate of all races according to state data. In 1999 Chlamydia positivity among 15 to 30 year old women screened at clinics in four IHS regions ranged from 5.4% to 10.8% (DHHS, IHS 1999)
Approximately 75% of women and 50% of men with Chlamydia are asymptomatic.
Most Chlamydia infections among women are detected through screening tests during a routine medical visit (i.e., family planning, prenatal care, and annual Pap test visit).
According to the CDC:
* up to 40% of women with untreated Chlamydia will develop Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). Of those with PID, approximately 20% will become infertile;
* 18% will experience debilitating, chronic pelvic pain;
* 9% will have a life-threatening tubal pregnancy;
* if exposed to HIV, women who are infected with Chlamydia have a three to five fold increased risk of becoming infected.
Chlamydia infections in most women are asymptomatic, occurring for months before causing serious and costly complications such as:
* pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
* ectopic pregnancy
* infertility, and
* chronic pelvic pain.
Currently there are 18 sites that are actively participating in the Stop! Chlamydia project. The participating clinics receive the expensive azithromycin at no cost. In return, each clinic agrees to offer screening to eligible women and to provide basic surveillance data on each positive AI/AN chlamydia case. Through surveillance, local communities may gain information on disease incidence and risk factors prevalence to assist them in better control efforts.
Current guidelines for the treatment of patients who have STDs developed by the CDC are available in Adobe Acrobat format. Click here to get to the CDC/MMWR site where they can be downloaded:
The Northwest Tribal 2001-2002 Year End Chlamydia Surveillance Report (Sept 2002)(PDF)
Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines 2002 (May 10,2002)
The Northwest Tribal 1999-2000 Year End Chlamydia Surveillance Report (May 2001) (PDF)
The Northwest Tribal 1999-2000 Semi-Annual Chlamydia Surveillance Report
The Northwest Tribal 1997-1998 Year End Chlamydia Surveillance Report
Related Web sites
CDC National STD Hotline: 1-800-227-8922
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Indian Health Service
National Institute of Health
CDC Prevention Information Network
Public Health:
American Public Health Association
Kaiser Family Foundation
State Pages
Oregon Health Division
Idaho State Official Webpage
Washington State Department of Health
HIV
National Minority Aids Council
National Native American AIDS Prevention Center
Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS
The Body: An AIDS/HIV information resource
Reproductive Health
Planned Parenthood
American Social Health Association
National Women’s Health Information Center
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