Improving Maternal and Child Health Through Point-of-care STI Testing (MATCH-POINT)
Emory University
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if point-of-care tests (POCTs) for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) improve the timely treatment of syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomonas in pregnant women. It will also learn about the feasibility, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness of implementing POCTs in a large safety-net hospital setting. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Do POCTs reduce delays in STI treatment compared with standard laboratory-based testing? * What barriers, facilitators, and processes affect POCT implementation in prenatal and obstetric care? * What are the costs and cost-effectiveness of POCTs compared with standard testing? Participants will: * Complete a baseline survey and receive either POCTs (fingerstick blood draw or vaginal swab) or standard laboratory STI testing. * If diagnosed with an STI, complete a follow-up survey approximately one month later. * Stakeholders (providers, hospital leadership, and public health officials) will complete interviews to inform implementation strategies.
Description
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) represent a growing public health crisis in the United States, with disproportionate impact among Black women and women residing in the Southeastern region. National surveillance data demonstrate alarming increases in syphilis, with reported cases rising by 937% and congenital syphilis cases increasing by 755% over the past decade. In pregnant women, untreated or delayed treatment of STIs is associated with severe adverse reproductive outcomes, including stillbirth, preterm birth, and vertical transmission to the infant. At Grady Memorial Hospital (GMH),…