Direct and Indirect Cost Savings From Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing, Treatment, and Counseling Among Foster Youth
| Autor: | Andrea K. Kennedy, Melissa Jonson-Reid, Katie Plax, Gaurav N. Kaushik, Aytakin Huseynli, Emma L. Dubinsky |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
Counseling
Microbiology (medical) medicine.medical_specialty Adolescent Population Gonorrhea Child Foster Sexually Transmitted Diseases HIV Infections Dermatology urologic and male genital diseases Indirect costs Sexually active Cost Savings Health care medicine Humans Syphilis education education.field_of_study Chlamydia business.industry Public Health Environmental and Occupational Health medicine.disease Disease control female genital diseases and pregnancy complications Infectious Diseases Family medicine business |
| Zdroj: | Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 49:86-89 |
| ISSN: | 1537-4521 0148-5717 |
| Popis: | BACKGROUND Sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention programs can decrease the economic burden of STIs. Foster youth have higher rates of STIs compared to their peers; however, information on direct costs and indirect costs averted by STI testing, treatment, and counseling among foster youth is lacking. METHODS This study utilized data from a comprehensive medical center for foster youth over a three-year study period from July 2017 to June 2020. Direct and indirect costs averted by testing and treatment of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, as well as HIV testing and counseling, were calculated based on formulas developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and adjusted for inflation. RESULTS Among the 316 youth who received medical services during this time, 206 were sexually active and tested for STIs and/or HIV. Among 121 positive STI tests, 64.5% (n = 78) were positive for chlamydia, 30.6% (n = 37) were positive for gonorrhea, and 5.0% (n = 6) were positive for syphilis. Treatment was provided to all. Overall, $60,049.68 in direct medical costs and $73,956.36 in indirect costs were averted. CONCLUSIONS Given the rates of STIs among this population as well as the economic benefit of STI treatment, it is imperative to continue to provide intensive and comprehensive, individualized sexual healthcare for foster youth. Traditional care management may miss the opportunity to prevent, identify, and treat STIs that comprehensive wraparound care can achieve. This study suggests that comprehensive wraparound care is a cost-effective way to identify, treat, and prevent STIs among foster youth. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
|