Background Young African-American women have the highest rates of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the USA. The objective was to identify baseline predictors of repeat chlamydia and/or gonorrhoea infections among African-American adolescent women.

Methods Sociodemographic, psychosocial and behavioural data were collected at baseline and every 6 months for 2 years from 701 African-American women (14–20 years) enrolled in an HIV prevention trial. Vaginal swabs were self-collected at each visit and assayed for chlamydia and gonorrhoea using DNA amplification. Among participants testing positive for chlamydia and/or gonorrhoea at baseline, logistic regression analyses assessed baseline predictors of repeat infection.

Results Of 618 (88%) participants with ≥1 follow-up assessment, 123 (20%) had a positive chlamydia and/or gonorrhoea test result at baseline; 49 (40%) had a repeat infection during the study period. Of those with a repeat infection, 30 (61%) were positive at one follow-up visit, 18 (37%) at two visits and 1 (2%) at three follow-up visits. Controlling for age and intervention condition, impulsivity (AOR: 1.71, p=0.018) was associated with an increased likelihood, and having a boyfriend (AOR: 0.21, p=0.006) was associated with a decreased likelihood of repeat infection.

Conclusions Repeat chlamydia and/or gonorrhoea infections are common among African-American adolescent women. Among young African-American women who test positive for chlamydia and/or gonorrhoea, tailored interventions for more impulsive adolescents and those not in a relationship may reduce risk of repeat infections. Given the high numbers of repeat infections after receipt of an evidence-based intervention, enhanced screening and treatment services for young men may be warranted.

Clinical Trials Registration http://www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00279799)