Correlates of readiness to receive Chlamydia screening among 2 populations of youths.

OBJECTIVES To assess young people's preferences for Chlamydia testing venues and methods, attitudes about testing, sex differences among these variables, and their predictive associations with young people's readiness for screening. DESIGN Survey. SETTING National Job Training site and Department of Youth Services site. PARTICIPANTS One hundred fifty male and 150 female youths from the National Job Training site and 150 male youths from the Department of Youth Services site. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Modifiable predictors of stage of readiness for Chlamydia screening. RESULTS Modifiable variables associated with increasing readiness for Chlamydia screening included the following: (1) among males in the Department of Youth Services group, perceived likelihood of ever having a Chlamydia infection; (2) among males from the National Job Training site, lack of condom use as a risk factor for Chlamydia infection and perception of untreated Chlamydia infection as dangerous; and (3) among females from the National Job Training site, belief that a partner could have a Chlamydia infection and fewer perceived social consequences of Chlamydia testing. CONCLUSION Interventions targeted at sex-specific modifiable variables may help reduce undiagnosed Chlamydia infection among sexually active youth.