Young male sex workers are at high risk for sexually transmitted infections, a cross-sectional study from Dutch STI clinics, the Netherlands, 2006-2012

N Fournet, F D H Koedijk, A P van Leeuwen, M S van Rooijen, Marianne van der Sande, M G van Veen

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Male sex workers (MSW) are particularly exposed to sexually transmitted infections (STI) including HIV. In the Netherlands, data about STI among MSW are scarce. We estimated chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV diagnoses among MSW attending STI clinics and determined associated factors to guide prevention policies.

METHODS: Using 2006-2012 cross-sectional national surveillance data from Dutch STI clinics, we calculated the proportion of consultations with a positive test for any of three bacterial STI or HIV among MSW. Associated factors were determined by using Poisson logistic regression with robust variance.

RESULTS: We identified 3,053 consultations involving MSW, of which 18.1 % included at least one positive bacterial STI test and 2.5 % a positive HIV test. Factors associated with bacterial STI and/or HIV diagnoses were respectively age groups < 35 y.o. and self-reporting homo- or bisexual preferences (aRR = 1.6; 95 % CI: 1.3-2.1), and age group 25-34 y.o. (aRR = 2.7; 95 % CI: 1.2-6.5) and self-reporting homo- or bisexual preferences (aRR = 24.4; 95 % CI: 3.4-176.9). Newly diagnosed and pre-existing HIV infection were associated with an increased risk for bacterial STI (aRR = 2.7, 95 % CI: 1.7-2.6 and aRR = 2.1, 95 % CI: 2.2-3.4 respectively). MSW with no history of HIV screening were more likely to be tested positive for HIV compared to those with a previous HIV-negative test (aRR = 2.6, 95 % CI: 1.6-4.3).

CONCLUSION: Health promotion activities should target MSW who are young, homo- or bisexual, those who are HIV-infected or who have never been tested for HIV, to increase early diagnosis, prevention and treatment.

Original languageEnglish
Article number63
JournalBMC Infectious Diseases
Volume16
Number of pages8
ISSN1471-2334
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016

Keywords

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Gonorrhea/epidemiology
  • HIV Infections/epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Screening
  • Netherlands/epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Risk-Taking
  • Sex Workers/statistics & numerical data
  • Sexual Behavior/statistics & numerical data
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases/epidemiology
  • Syphilis/epidemiology
  • Young Adult

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