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Dear Editor:
Sexual and Reproductive Health day was marked on February 12, and highlighted the burden of sexually transmitted infections among Canadians. The reported rates of notifiable sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, are highest among youth 15 to 24 years old.1-3 This burden impacts youth's sexual and reproductive health. "Youth," however, are comprised of diverse groups and it can be challenging to identify where interventions should be targeted to reduce the prevalence of STIs and prevent STI transmission. Evidence has indicated that street-involved youth (SY) may be at higher risk for STIs due to multiple sexual partners, poor rates of condom use, and socio-economic and sexual vulnerabilities.4- 6 However, few studies have compared the extent of health-related disparities between SY and their peers in the general population.
We reviewed data drawn from the Enhanced Street Youth Surveillance system (E-SYS)7 Cycle 6 (2009-2011) and compared these results to data from 15-24 year olds in the general population collected through the 2009/2010 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS).8 Analyses were limited to the seven urban centres participating in E-SYS: Vancouver, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax.
When compared to their peers in the general population (unweighted n=3354,...