The findings and conclusions in these presentations have not been formally disseminated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy.

Thursday, March 13, 2008 - 9:30 AM
D1e

Does privatization of jail health care impede the screening of detainees for STD?

Anne Spaulding, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road NE Room 472, Atlanta, GA, USA

The 1997 and 2005 CDC/NIJ National Surveys of Infectious Diseases in Correctional Facilities queried the 50 largest US jails on healthcare funding and STD screening policies. In 2005, of 33 responding jails, 64% reported privatized healthcare. Mandatory/routine syphilis testing in jails declined: 41% (1997) to 25% (2005). Public vs. contracted trended towards more routine testing (42% vs.14%, p=0.14). A significantly higher percentage of detainees entering non-privatized jails had syphilis testing (41% vs.11%, p<.0001). Privatization is associated with less syphilis testing, but factors other than financing may influence whether testing occurs. We will discuss developing privatized healthcare screening programs.