In:
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health), Vol. 46, No. 1 ( 2019-1), p. 25-30
Abstract:
Prevention of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among men who have sex with men (MSM) requires timely disease detection, but this is complicated by asymptomatic infection. We estimated screening/testing rates by symptomatic status to evaluate adherence to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention STI screening guidelines. Methods In a cross-sectional study of 2572 US MSM aged 15 to 65 years in 2017 to 2018, we measured the reported number of asymptomatic STI screens in the past 2 years versus tests prompted by disease symptoms. Using negative binominal regression within a hierarchical Bayesian framework, we estimated yearly rates of asymptomatic screening and symptomatic testing by geographic, demographic, and behavioral factors. Results Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status was most strongly associated with all testing/screening frequency (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.72; 95% credible interval [Crl] , 1.49, 1.97). The HIV-uninfected MSM had 0.14 (95% credible interval [CrI], 0.12–0.17) symptomatic tests and 0.88 (95% CrI, 0.77–1.01) asymptomatic screens per year. The HIV-infected MSM had 0.25 (95% CrI, 0.18–0.35) symptomatic tests and 1.53 (95% CrI, 1.24–1.88) asymptomatic screens per year. Rates of asymptomatic screening were higher among black compared with white MSM (IRR, 1.41; 95% CrI, 1.15–1.73), but weakly associated with number of past-year sexual partners (IRR, 1.01; 95% CrI, 1.00–1.01). Overall, 85% to 90% of diagnostic events were asymptomatic screens. Conclusions Self-reported rates of STI screening were close to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommended overall annual screening frequency, but with gaps defined by demographics and behavioral risk. Targeted screening efforts may be indicated specifically for younger MSM and those with multiple partners.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1537-4521
,
0148-5717
DOI:
10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000896
Language:
English
Publisher:
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Publication Date:
2019
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2055170-8
