CHICAGO (AP) - At least one in four teenage girls nationwide has a sexually transmitted disease. That's according to a new study from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The study found the HPV virus that causes cervical cancer is by far the most common sexually transmitted infection in girls age 14 to 19.
The highest overall prevalence is among black girls. Nearly half the blacks studied had at least one STD. Among both whites and Mexican-American teens, the rate was 20 percent.
The director of the CDC's division of STD prevention says high STD rates among young women are clear signs that researchers must continue developing ways to reach those most at risk.
The study analyzes data on more than 800 girls who participated in a 2003-2004 government health survey.
On the Net:
CDC:
http://www.cdc.gov
American Academy of Pediatrics:
http://www.aap.org
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement