Sexually Transmitted Infections Among California Youth: Estimated Incidence and Direct Medical Cost, 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence and the direct medical cost of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among young persons in California and each of its 58 counties, and to better inform discussions about statewide policies and local resources needed for STI prevention and control efforts. Methods: On the basis of the methods developed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention we estimated the statewide number of new cases of eight major STIs among young persons aged 15 to 24 years in California in 2005: chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, genital herpes, human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B, trichomoniasis, and HIV. We also calculated the direct medical cost of these STIs using national cost-per-case estimates. To inform local policy discussions about STI control efforts, the statewide estimates were allocated by county. Results: An estimated 1.1 million new cases of STIs occurred among young persons in California in 2005, with a direct medical cost of $1.1 billion. The estimated number of new cases within counties ranged from a low of 82 in Alpine and Sierra counties, at a cost of $38,000, to a high of about 360,000 in Los Angeles County, at a cost of $390 million. Conclusions: These estimates illustrate the widespread and frequently underreported incidence and costs of youth STIs in California and its counties, and provide the foundation for a comprehensive assessment of youth STI prevention needs.