# A new approach to controlling chlamydia transmission in young people

> **NIH NIH R01** · TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA · 2020 · $562,139

## Abstract

Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) is the most commonly reported sexually transmitted infection in the U.S., is a major
cause of infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease and ectopic pregnancy among women and has been
associated with increased HIV acquisition. Because women experience the most severe sequelae, the focus
of Ct prevention in the U.S. has been on screening sexually active women < 25 years old. Though men are
reservoirs of the infection, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have not recommended targeting
men due to lack of evidence for this approach. This research will fill this gap. African American (AA) women
are 7.5 times more likely to be infected with Ct than whites, thus AA are the focus of this research. We
hypothesize that screening AA men is essential to curbing the high rates of Ct among young AA women and
that a bundled approach will by synergistic. Our community-based pilot program, called “Check it,” is a pilot-
tested male screening program which targeted AA men aged 15-25. At the core of this intervention is male Ct
screening, but it is also bundled with other evidence-based and best practices for Ct control including: venue-
based sampling (VBS), social network peer referral, modest monetary incentives (MMI), screening of target
men, rescreening of target men found to be Ct positive with text reminders (Text-RS) , expedited treatment for
index men (EIT) and for the partners (EPT), and Wed-based education (Web-Ed). The goal of this study is to
examine the effectiveness of a pilot-tested, bundled Ct prevention program focusing on screening
young AA men for the prevention of Ct among young AA women: Aim 1. To determine the impact of
Check it on women's Ct rates – This aim has a formative phase and an intervention phase. In the formative
phase, the pilot Check it is developed and manualized. In the intervention, Check it is implemented and
evaluated. We hypothesize that, post-intervention, Ct rates among AA women in the intervention community
will be significantly lower compared to rates in the control communities, and that Check it will result in high
rates of index/partner treatment and rescreening. Aim 2. To model the potential impact and optimal
coverage needed - Using inputs from this study and the literature, a deterministic population-based
epidemiological model will be used to model the number of cases averted by Check it and to determine the
potential impact at different intensities of the intervention. Aim 3. To determine the cost effectiveness of
Check it - Time motion studies will be conducted and used as inputs for the cost-benefit/effectiveness analysis
of the Check it Program in order to distinguish study from program costs. If Check it is found to be effective as
hypothesized, we will conduct future translational research to disseminate the program. This research has the
potential for practical application by improving reproductive health and high impact by removing disparities in
the control of ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9936184
- **Project number:** 5R01HD086794-05
- **Recipient organization:** TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
- **Principal Investigator:** Patricia J Kissinger
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $562,139
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-08-15 → 2023-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9936184

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9936184, A new approach to controlling chlamydia transmission in young people (5R01HD086794-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9936184. Licensed CC0.

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