Private MD News

Minority women are more likely to receive a chlamydia test

Category: Chlamydia

While there is believed to be a higher prevalence of some sexually transmitted diseases among certain minorities, a recent study from Indiana University researchers found that Hispanic and African American women are more likely to receive chlamydia testing than white women, which may account for the disparity.

The researchers found that Hispanic women between the ages of 14 and 25 are 9.7 times more likely than white women to be given a chlamydia test than white women. Black women who are sexually active are 2.9 times more likely to be screened.

"For some common conditions like breast cancer, white women are more likely to receive a screening test like mammography," said Sarah E. Wiehe, who led the study. "For chlamydia infections - which are highly stigmatized STDs - white women are less likely, while minority women are more likely, to receive screening."

She added that physicians may be prone to making judgments about a woman's risk for the disease based on race, which colors their decision to offer testing. The results may also help explain why so many more minorities receive positive chlamydia tests.