A Description of Telehealth Use Among Sexually Transmitted Infection Providers in the United States, 2021.

BACKGROUND: Telehealth offers one approach to improving access to sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention and care services. Therefore, we described recent telehealth use among those providing STI-related care and identified opportunities for improving STI service delivery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the DocStyles Web-based, panel survey conducted by Porter Novelli from September 14 to November 10, 2021, 1500 healthcare providers were asked about their current telehealth usage, demographics, and practice characteristics, and compared STI providers (≥10% of time spent on STI care and prevention) to non-STI providers. RESULTS: Among those whose practice consisted of at least 10% STI visits (n = 597), 81.7% used telehealth compared with 75.7% for those whose practice consisted of less than 10% STI visits (n = 903). Among the providers with at least 10% STI visits in their practice, telehealth use was highest among obstetrics and gynecology specialists, those practicing in suburban areas, and those practicing in the South. Among providers whose practice consisted of at least 10% STI visits and who used telehealth (n = 488), the majority were female and obstetrics and gynecology specialists practicing in suburban areas of the South. After controlling for age, gender, provider specialty, and geographic location of their practice, providers whose practice consisted of at least 10% STI visits had increased odds (odds ratio, 1.51; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-1.97) of using telehealth compared with providers whose visits consisted of less than 10% STI visits. CONCLUSIONS: Given the widespread use of telehealth, efforts to optimize delivery of STI care and prevention via telehealth are important to improve access to services and address STIs in the United States.

Sexual-risk and STI-testing behaviors of a national sample of non-students, two-year, and four-year college students.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether sexual-risk and STI-testing behaviors differ by college student status. PARTICIPANTS: Sexually experienced 17- to 25-year-olds from a 2013 nationally representative panel survey that evaluated the "Get Yourself Tested" campaign. Non-students (n = 628), 2-yr (n = 319), and 4-yr college students (n = 587) were surveyed. METHODS: Bivariate analyses and multiple logistic regression were used. RESULTS: Students were less likely than non-students to have had an early sexual debut and to have not used condoms in their most recent relationship. 4-yr students were less likely than non-students to have had multiple sexual partners. 2-yr students were less likely than non-students to have not used contraception in their most recent relationship. CONCLUSIONS: 2-yr and 4-yr college students were less likely than non-students to engage in sexual-risk behaviors. Given potentially greater risk for STI acquisition among non-students, identification and implementation of strategies to increase sexual health education and services among this population is needed.

At-Home Specimen Self-Collection and Self-Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infection Screening Demand Accelerated by the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Review of Laboratory Implementation Issues.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic reduced the sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing volume due to social-distancing and stay-at-home orders, among other reasons. These events highlighted previously known benefits of at-home STI self-testing or specimen self-collection and accelerated testing demand via telemedicine. We review testing outside traditional clinical settings. We focus on three curable bacterial STIs among the top 10 U.S. nationally notifiable conditions with screening recommendations: syphilis, gonorrhea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae, also known as the gonococcus [GC]), and chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis). At least 19 million GC/C. trachomatis (GC/CT) screening or diagnostic tests are performed annually, presenting a considerable challenge during the pandemic. Unlike for HIV, STI at-home tests are currently not commercially available. However, innovative telemedicine providers currently offer services where specimen self-collection kits are mailed to patients at home who then ship them to laboratories for processing. We discuss technical and regulatory aspects of modifications for home-based specimen self-collection. The telemedicine provider typically manages and communicates results, provides linkage to care, and is responsible for billing and case reporting. We also describe rapid testing devices in development that may present an opportunity for future self-testing. In summary, COVID-19 has accelerated the evaluation and development of STI self-tests and specimen self-collection. The remaining obstacles are high price, regulatory approval, support for laboratories offering the service, and uncertainty regarding whether target populations with the greatest need are reached effectively. However, increased testing, convenience, and privacy are potential benefits that may enhance uptake and outlast the pandemic.

Sexually transmitted disease clinics in the United States: Understanding the needs of patients and the capabilities of providers.

Reports of bacterial sexually transmitted infections are at the highest levels ever reported in the United States, and state and local budgetary issues are placing specialized sexually transmitted disease (STD) care at risk. This study collected information from 4138 patients seeking care at 26 STD clinics in large metropolitan areas across the United States with high levels of reported STDs to determine patient needs and clinic capabilities. Surveys were provided to patients attending these STD clinics to assess their demographic information as well as reasons for coming to the clinic and surveys were also provided to clinic administrators to determine their operational capacities and services provided by the clinic. For this initial study, we conducted univariate analyses to report all data collected from these surveys. Patients attending STD clinics across the country indicated that they do so because of the relative ease of getting an appointment; including walk-in and same-day appointments as well as the welcoming environment and expertise of the staff at the clinic. Additionally, STD clinics provide specialized care to patients; including HIV testing and counseling as well as on-site, injectable medications for the treatment of gonorrhea and syphilis in an environment that helps to reduce the role of stigma in seeking this kind of care. Sexually transmitted disease clinics continue to play an important role in helping to curb the rising epidemic of sexually transmitted infections.

Sexually transmitted infections (STI) and antenatal care (ANC) clinics in Malawi: effective platforms for improving engagement of men at high HIV risk with voluntary medical male circumcision services.

INTRODUCTION: Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC), an effective HIV prevention programme for men, is implemented in East and Southern Africa. Approximately 50% of VMMC clients are aged below 15 years. More targeted interventions to reach older men and others at higher short-term HIV risk are needed. METHODS: We implemented a quality improvement project testing the effectiveness of an active referral-based VMMC recruitment approach, targeting men attending STI clinics and those escorting partners to antenatal care (ANC) clinics, at Bwaila Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi. We compared the proportions aged older than 15 years among men who received VMMC following referral from STI and ANC clinics with those among men referred from standard community mobilisation. We also analysed referral cascades to VMMC. RESULTS: In total, 330 clients were circumcised after referral from STI (242) and ANC (88) clinics, as compared with 3839 other clients attributed to standard community mobilisation. All clients from ANC and STI clinics were aged over 15 years, as compared with 69% from standard community mobilisation. STI clinics had a higher conversion rate from counselling to VMMC than ANC (12% vs 9%) and a higher contribution to total circumcisions performed at the VMMC clinic (6% vs 2%). CONCLUSIONS: Integrating VMMC recruitment and follow-up in STI and ANC clinics co-located with VMMC services can augment demand creation and targeting of men at risk of HIV, based on age and STI history. This approach can be replicated at least in similar health facilities with ANC and STI services in close proximity to VMMC service delivery.

Brief Report: Modeling the Impact of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision on Cervical Cancer in Uganda.

BACKGROUND: In addition to providing millions of men with lifelong lower risk for HIV infection, voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) also provides female partners with health benefits including decreased risk for human papillomavirus (HPV) and resultant cervical cancer (CC). SETTING: We modeled potential impacts of VMMC on CC incidence and mortality in Uganda as an additional benefit beyond HIV prevention. METHODS: HPV and CC outcomes were modeled using the CC model from the Spectrum policy tool suite, calibrated for Uganda, to estimate HPV infection incidence and progression to CC, using a 50-year (2018-2067) time horizon. 2016 Demographic Health Survey data provided baseline VMMC coverage. The baseline (no VMMC scale-up beyond current coverage, minimal HPV vaccination coverage) was compared with multiple scenarios to assess the varying impact of VMMC according to different implementations of HPV vaccination and HPV screening programs. RESULTS: Without further intervention, annual CC incidence was projected to rise from 16.9 to 31.2 per 100,000 women in 2067. VMMC scale-up alone decreased 2067 annual CC incidence to 25.3, averting 13,000 deaths between 2018 and 2067. With rapidly-achieved 90% HPV9 vaccination coverage for adolescent girls and young women, 2067 incidence dropped below 10 per 100,000 with or without a VMMC program. With 45% vaccine coverage, the addition of VMMC scaleup decreased incidence by 2.9 per 100,000 and averted 8000 additional deaths. Similarly, with HPV screen-and-treat without vaccination, the addition of VMMC scaleup decreased incidence by 5.1 per 100,000 and averted 10,000 additional deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Planned VMMC scale-up to 90% coverage from current levels could prevent a substantial number of CC cases and deaths in the absence of rapid scale-up of HPV vaccination to 90% coverage.

Sexually Transmitted Disease, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, and Pregnancy Testing Behaviors Among Internet and Mobile Dating Application Users and Nonusers, 2016.

We examined 2016 United States market research to understand the demographics and sexual health testing behaviors of dating app users. Internet/app users were more likely to be young adults, male, nonwhite, of Hispanic ethnicity, and unmarried. Users also reported greater testing for sexually transmitted disease, human immunodeficiency virus, and pregnancy.

Get Yourself Tested Goes to High School: Adapted Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention Campaign and Associated Student Use of Clinic Sexually Transmitted Disease Testing Services.

BACKGROUND: In an attempt to increase high school students' sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing rates, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Adolescent and School Health partnered with ICF and Chicago Public Schools to adapt and implement the "GYT: Get Yourself Tested" health marketing campaign for a high school. METHODS: Clinic record data and student retrospective self-report surveys (n = 193) tested for differences between the GYT intervention school and a comparison school on a number of outcomes, including human immunodeficiency virus and STD testing. RESULTS: Clinic record data showed that testing increased significantly more for the intervention than the comparison school during the GYT implementation period (B, 2.9; SE, 1.1, P < 0.05). Furthermore, the odds of being tested at the referral clinic were more than 4 times (odds ratio, 4.4) as high for students in the campaign school than for those in the comparison school (95% confidence interval, 2.3-8.2). Survey data did not show increased self-reported testing but, more students in the GYT school (92.7%) were aware of where to receive free, low-cost, or affordable human immunodeficiency virus and STD testing than students in the comparison school (76.0%; P < 0.01). Among sexually experienced students (n = 142), significantly more from the campaign school reported that they intended to test for STDs in the next 3 months (48.4% strongly agree and 33.2% agree) compared with those at the comparison school (27.4% strongly agree and 32.9% agree; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our pilot suggests that a student-led GYT campaign in high schools may successfully increase STD testing of students. Although some of the findings from this pilot evaluation are promising, they are limited, and broader implementation and evaluation is needed. Future evaluation efforts can include more rigorous study designs, multiple schools or districts, longer campaign and evaluation across an entire school or calendar year, or in combination with other school-based testing strategies like a mass school-based screening event.

University efforts to address confidentiality issues for STI services.

Objective: This study assessed university policies for addressing confidentiality issues for students seeking STI services. Participants: Universities with sponsored health insurance plans (SHIP) and/or wellness centers were selected from a university health services survey in 2017. Methods: STI service coverage and polices for addressing confidentiality issues related to explanation of benefit (EOB) forms were stratified by institution type (4-year versus 2-year) and minority serving institution (MSI) status. Rao-Scott chi-square tests were used to assess for differences in STI service coverage and polices. Results: More non-MSIs (61.6%) had SHIPs compared to MSIs (40.0%, p < .001). Only 40.8% of health centers had a policy for addressing EOB-related confidently issues. Of those, the most reported policy was that students could pay out-of-pocket to avoid generating an EOB (36.2%). Conclusions: Reducing confidentiality barriers are important for STI prevention in students. Universities may consider establishing policies for addressing EOB-related confidentiality concerns.

Get Yourself Tested (GYT) Campaign: Investigating Campaign Awareness and Behaviors Among High School and College Students.

Adolescents and young adults are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). This study examined the association of GYT: Get Yourself Tested (GYT), a sexual health social marketing campaign, with several sexual health behaviors on a nationally representative sample of high school (HS) and college students ( n = 2,329) recruited through an online panel survey. Behaviors examined were STD testing, HIV testing, and whether students had communication with health care providers and their romantic partners about STDs and STD testing. Rao-Scott chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression models were conducted. The results indicated college students were more aware of GYT than HS students. Awareness of GYT was significantly associated with STD testing ( p < .05), HIV testing ( p < .01), and talking with romantic partners ( p < .01) for college students but only with STD testing ( p < .05) and talking to a provider ( p < .05) for HS students. The differences between HS and college students provide insight for those developing and implementing interventions across such a broad age range of youth.

Assessment of sexual health services at US colleges and universities, 2001 and 2014.

Background Approximately 19million students attend post-secondary institutions in the US. With rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) at unprecedented highs, the college and university setting can provide the opportunity to engage young adults in their sexual health and deliver recommended services. The purpose of this study was to compare the provision of sexual health services at US college and university health centres across studies conducted in 2001 and 2014. METHODS: We compared data from nationally representative surveys administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2001, n=736 schools; 2014, n=482 schools), assessing the provision of services, including STI diagnosis and treatment, contraception, STI education, condom distribution and availability of health insurance. RESULTS: Compared with 2001, statistically significant increases were observed in 2014, including in the provision of contraceptive services (56.1% vs 65.0%), HIV testing (81.5% vs 92.3%) and gonorrhoea testing (90.7% vs 95.8%). Significant decreases were found in the number of schools offering health plans (65.5% vs 49.4%) and specific modes of offering STI education, such as health fairs (82.3% vs 69.9%) and orientation presentations (46.5% vs 29.8%; all P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: From 2001 to 2014, there have been some improvements in sexual health services at colleges and universities, but there are areas that require additional access to services. Schools may consider regular assessments of service provision in order to further promote sexual health services on college campuses.

Progress in voluntary medical male circumcision for HIV prevention supported by the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief through 2017: longitudinal and recent cross-sectional programme data.

OBJECTIVE: This article provides an overview and interpretation of the performance of the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief's (PEPFAR's) male circumcision programme which has supported the majority of voluntary medical male circumcisions (VMMCs) performed for HIV prevention, from its 2007 inception to 2017, and client characteristics in 2017. DESIGN: Longitudinal collection of routine programme data and disaggregations. SETTING: 14 countries in sub-Saharan Africa with low baseline male circumcision coverage, high HIV prevalence and PEPFAR-supported VMMC programmes. PARTICIPANTS: Clients of PEPFAR-supported VMMC programmes directed at males aged 10 years and above. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Numbers of circumcisions performed and disaggregations by age band, result of HIV test offer, procedure technique and follow-up visit attendance. RESULTS: PEPFAR supported a total of 15 269 720 circumcisions in 14 countries in Southern and Eastern Africa. In 2017, 45% of clients were under 15 years of age, 8% had unknown HIV status, 1% of those tested were HIV+ and 84% returned for a follow-up visit within 14 days of circumcision. CONCLUSIONS: Over 15 million VMMCs have been supported by PEPFAR since 2007. VMMC continues to attract primarily young clients. The non-trivial proportion of clients not testing for HIV is expected, and may be reassuring that testing is not being presented as mandatory for access to circumcision, or in some cases reflect test kit stockouts or recent testing elsewhere. While VMMC is extremely safe, achieving the highest possible follow-up rates for early diagnosis and intervention on complications is crucial, and programmes continue to work to raise follow-up rates. The VMMC programme has achieved rapid scale-up but continues to face challenges, and new approaches may be needed to achieve the new Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS goal of 27 million additional circumcisions through 2020.

Improving STD service delivery: Would American patients and providers use self-tests for gonorrhea and chlamydia?

Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhea (GC) are the most frequently reported notifiable diseases in the United States and costs for diagnosis and treatment of these two infections are approximately $700 million per year. A proposed new method for screening for these two infections is self-tests; similar to at-home pregnancy and HIV tests which do not include sending collected specimens to a laboratory for diagnosis. However, no such self-tests for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To determine the acceptability of such a test, we used three surveys, conducted in 2017, including the American Men's Internet Survey, the SummerStyles survey, and the DocStyles survey to ask potential users about their interest in this type of test and how they might use it. Among our sampled population of men who have sex with men, 79.5% said they would prefer to take this type of test at home and 73.9% said they would be willing to pay at least $20 for the test. Among young adults (18-29 years), 54.1% indicated that they would like to take this test at home and 64.5% were willing to pay more than $10 for such a test. Among sampled physicians, 85.1% were "likely" or "very likely" to use an FDA-approved STD self-test in their office to screen for CT or GC. Self-tests for STDs are on our horizon and we need to be prepared to integrate these tests into our healthcare systems.

Heterosexual Anal and Oral Sex in Adolescents and Adults in the United States, 2011-2015.

BACKGROUND: Heterosexual anal and oral sex are related to the acquisition and transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). As common reportable STDs (chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis) in the United States are increasing, it is important to understand recent oral and anal sexual behaviors. METHODS: We examined the prevalence and correlates of heterosexual anal and oral sex, associated condom use, and having multiple partners among men and women aged 15 to 44 years. RESULTS: Approximately one third of women and men had ever engaged in anal sex, including 11% of adolescents (15-19 years). Most women and men had ever received or given oral sex (at >75%). Six percent and 7% of women and men, respectively, used a condom at last oral sex compared with 20% and 30% who used a condom at last anal sex. Having multiple sex partners in the past year was most common among adolescents, never or formerly married persons, and those who had a nonmonogamous partner. Less than 10% reported multiple anal sex partners in the past year. A substantial minority had multiple oral or anal sex partners; black women and men had the highest reports of oral sex partners by race/ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS: Anal and oral sex are common sexual practices. Given the low rates of condom use during these behaviors, it is important that recommendations for sexual risk assessments are followed. Tailored messaging regarding risk for STD and human immunodeficiency virus acquisition during oral and anal sex may benefit adolescents, singles, and divorced individuals. Future discussions regarding the benefits of extragenital STD testing for heterosexuals may be useful.

Creating Innovative Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing Options for University Students: The Impact of an STI Self-testing Program.

BACKGROUND: National-level data suggest that sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing rates among young adults are low. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the acceptability of an STI self-testing program at a university health center. Few evaluations on the acceptability of collegiate self-testing programs and their effect on testing uptake have been conducted. METHODS: To assess acceptability and uptake of self-testing (urine and self-collected vaginal swab), we conducted a brief self-administered survey of students accessing a large US-based university health center from January to December 2015. RESULTS: In 2015, University Health Services experienced a 28.5% increase in chlamydia (CT)/gonorrhea (GC) testing for male individuals and 13.7% increase in testing for female students compared to 2013 (baseline). In 2015, 12.4% of male students and 4.8% of female students tested positive for CT/GC via clinician testing, whereas 12.9% of male students and 12.4% of female students tested positive via self-testing. Female students were more likely to test positive for CT/GC when electing to test via self-test versus a clinician test (χ(1, N = 3068) = 36.54, P < 0.01); no significant difference in testing type was observed for male students. Overall, 22.5% of students who opted for the self-test option completed the acceptability survey; 63% reported that their main reason for testing was unprotected sex. In the past year, 42% reported 4 or more partners. The majority were very satisfied and likely to use the service again (82%). CONCLUSIONS: Self-testing may be an efficient and effective way to provide STI testing for students and increase testing uptake. Self-reports of multiple partners, unprotected sex, and detected infections suggest that at-risk students are using the service.

The state of sexual health services at U.S. Colleges and Universities.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the array of sexual health care services provided at US colleges and universities. PARTICIPANTS: During 2014-2015, 885 colleges were surveyed about their provision of sexual health services. METHODS: 55% of colleges responded. Data were weighted and stratified by minority-serving institutions (MSIs), 2-year and 4-year institutions. RESULTS: 70.6% of colleges reported having a health center (HC), of which 73.0% offered STI diagnosis/treatment (4 years vs. 2 years; 77.9% vs. 53.1%) and contraceptive services (70.1% vs. 46.4%), all p < .001. HCs less frequently offered LARC (19.7%), express STI testing (24.4%) and self-collection (31.4%). Condoms were available on 66.8% of campuses. HPV vaccination was available at more 4-year colleges (73.7% vs. 48.5%, p < .003) and non-MSIs (74.4% vs. 58.5, p = .019). Regarding MSM-targeted services, 54.6% offered pharyngeal and 51.8% rectal STI testing. CONCLUSIONS: 2-year colleges may require additional support with providing sexual health care. Improvements could entail increasing express testing, extra-genital STI testing, and LARC.

Preparing for the Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Self-Test.

New technology may soon allow individuals to test themselves for chlamydia and gonorrhea. These new self-tests might help increase screening, but they will also bring new issues for treatment, prevention, and surveillance. Providers will need to decide how to respond to patients who present after a positive screening test and how to approach partner testing and treatment. Research will be needed to identify approaches to increase screening using these tests. Laboratory-based surveillance will not capture infections if testing does not involve a laboratory, so new surveillance techniques will be needed. Self-tests are new tools that will soon be available. We should be prepared to use them.

Use of Patient-Delivered Partner Therapy in US College Settings: Associations With Legality, Perceived Legality and Other Sexual and Reproductive Health Services.

BACKGROUND: Young adults, including college students, have higher rates of chlamydia than the general population. Patient-delivered partner therapy (PDPT) is a partner treatment option for sex partners of individuals diagnosed with chlamydia or gonorrhea. We examined college health center use of PDPT in a national sample of colleges. METHODS: During 2014 to 2015, we collected data from 482 colleges and universities (55% of 885 surveyed), weighting responses by institutional characteristics abstracted from a national database (eg, 2-year vs 4-year status). We asked whether the school had a student health center and which sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services were offered. We also assessed the legal and perceived legal status of PDPT in states where schools were located. We then estimated PDPT availability at student health centers and measured associations with legal status and SRH services. RESULTS: Most colleges (n = 367) reported having a student health center; PDPT was available at 36.6% of health centers and associated with perceived legality of PDPT in the state in which the college was located (odds ratio [OR], 4.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17-18.28). Patient-delivered partner therapy was significantly associated with availability of SRH services, including sexually transmitted disease diagnosis and treatment of STI (56.2% vs 1.1%), gynecological services (60.3% vs 12.2%), and contraceptive services (57.8% vs 7.7%) (all P < .001). Compared with schools taking no action, PDPT was more likely to be available at schools that notified partners directly (OR, 8.29; 95% CI, 1.28-53.85), but not schools that asked patients to notify partners (OR, 3.47; 95% CI, 0.97-12.43). CONCLUSIONS: PDPT was more likely to be available in colleges that offered SRH services and where staff believed PDPT was legal. Further research could explore more precise conditions under which PDPT is used.

US Public Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinical Services in an Era of Declining Public Health Funding: 2013-14.

BACKGROUND: We examined the infrastructure for US public sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinical services. METHODS: In 2013 to 2014, we surveyed 331 of 1225 local health departments (LHDs) who either reported providing STD testing/treatment in the 2010 National Profile of Local Health Departments survey or were the 50 local areas with the highest STD cases or rates. The sample was stratified by jurisdiction population size. We examined the primary referral clinics for STDs, the services offered and the impact of budget cuts (limited to government funding only). Data were analyzed using SAS, and analyses were weighted for nonresponse. RESULTS: Twenty-two percent of LHDs cited a specialty STD clinic as their primary referral for STD services; this increased to 53.5% of LHDs when combination STD-family planning clinics were included. The majority of LHDs (62.8%) referred to clinics providing same-day services. Sexually transmitted disease clinics more frequently offered extragenital testing for chlamydia and/or gonorrhea (74.7%) and gonorrhea culture (68.5%) than other clinics (52.9%, 46.2%, respectively; P < 0.05). The majority of LHDs (61.5%) reported recent budget cuts. Of those with decreased budgets, the most common impacts were fewer clinic hours (42.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 24.4-61.2), reduced routine screening (40.2%; 95% CI, 21.7-58.8) and reductions in partner services (42.1%; 95% CI, 23.6-60.7). One quarter of those with reduced STD budgets increased fees or copays for clients. CONCLUSIONS: Findings demonstrate gaps and reductions in US public STD services including clinical services that play an important role in reducing disease transmission. Furthermore, STD clinics tended to offer more specialized STD services than other public clinics.