Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing Adherence Among Pregnant Women

Prenatal screening and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are critical components of maternal and child health, as they play a vital role in preventing adverse birth outcomes. Despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishing regular guidelines for prenatal STI screening and treatment, limited evidence exists regarding provider adherence to these recommendations as the majority prior studies rely on public health case reports or manual chart reviews, which restrict scalability and generalizability. Administrative health data, particularly International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) codes, offer a promising avenue for large-scale epidemiologic surveillance of pregnancy-related exposures and outcomes. These codes can capture key clinical details, including gestational age and delivery outcomes, which are essential for assessing guideline adherence. However, the validity of gestational ICD-10-CM codes in accurately identifying gestational age at the time of diagnosis remains uncertain. This dissertation leverages linked electronic health records from the Indiana Network for Patient Care and the state birth registry to address three aims: 1) evaluate the accuracy of gestational age-related ICD-10-CM codes in identifying pregnancy trimester and gestational weeks; 2) assess provider adherence to CDC syphilis screening guidelines among stillbirth cases; and 3) evaluate adherence to CDC guidelines for chlamydia and gonorrhea screening during pregnancy. Findings from this research will inform public health strategies to improve prenatal STI screening practices and enhance maternal and child health outcomes.

Author dc:creator

• Ho, Yenling Andrew

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Dixon, Brian E.

• Epidemiology
• Maternal Health
• Public Health Informatics
• Public Health Surveillance
• Screening Guidelines
• Sexually Transmitted Infection

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1805/55136

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.indianapolis.iu.edu:1805/55136