Poonam Mathur1, John Zurlo1, Patsi Albright1, Tonya Crook1, Cynthia Whitener1, Ping Du2. 1. Department of Medicine, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA. 2. Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Syphilis incidence has been steadily increasing among HIV-infected men in the United States, representing an important public health challenge to HIV prevention. Clinic-based HIV prevention interventions are available but may need to be revisited in response to syphilis epidemic. We wanted to better understand the current epidemiology of syphilis in rural HIV-infected men who routinely received HIV risk-reduction counseling in order to plan more effective HIV prevention strategies in clinical care. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to examine factors associated with syphilis infections in rural HIV-infected men who received sexually transmitted disease screening and HIV risk-reduction counseling during HIV primary care from January 2008 to June 2013. We assessed patients' demographic, clinical, behavioral and psychosocial characteristics and performed a multivariable exact logistic regression to identify factors related to syphilis. RESULTS: Despite routine risk screening and HIV risk-reduction counseling, a total of 51 syphilis infections were diagnosed among 702 HIV-infected men (5 patients were diagnosed ≥ 2 episodes). The majority of the study participants was sexually active and reported at least one unsafe sexual behavior, mainly inconsistent condom use. Younger age (<35 years, adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=3.09), higher educational attainment (some college or above, aOR=3.72), and perception that the partner may have sex with other people (aOR=3.10) were significantly associated with syphilis infection. Non-injection drug use was related to syphilis in HIV-infected men who have sex with men (aOR=2.86). DISCUSSION: Some HIV-infected men, especially young, educated men, or those who perceived that their partners may have sex with other people, continue to have high-risk behaviors that increase their own risks of acquiring syphilis and may also facilitate HIV transmission. New strategies need to be developed for HIV primary care providers to help HIV-infected patients maintain safer sex practices.
OBJECTIVE: Syphilis incidence has been steadily increasing among HIV-infectedmen in the United States, representing an important public health challenge to HIV prevention. Clinic-based HIV prevention interventions are available but may need to be revisited in response to syphilis epidemic. We wanted to better understand the current epidemiology of syphilis in rural HIV-infectedmen who routinely received HIV risk-reduction counseling in order to plan more effective HIV prevention strategies in clinical care. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to examine factors associated with syphilis infections in rural HIV-infectedmen who received sexually transmitted disease screening and HIV risk-reduction counseling during HIV primary care from January 2008 to June 2013. We assessed patients' demographic, clinical, behavioral and psychosocial characteristics and performed a multivariable exact logistic regression to identify factors related to syphilis. RESULTS: Despite routine risk screening and HIV risk-reduction counseling, a total of 51 syphilis infections were diagnosed among 702 HIV-infectedmen (5 patients were diagnosed ≥ 2 episodes). The majority of the study participants was sexually active and reported at least one unsafe sexual behavior, mainly inconsistent condom use. Younger age (<35 years, adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=3.09), higher educational attainment (some college or above, aOR=3.72), and perception that the partner may have sex with other people (aOR=3.10) were significantly associated with syphilis infection. Non-injection drug use was related to syphilis in HIV-infectedmen who have sex with men (aOR=2.86). DISCUSSION: Some HIV-infectedmen, especially young, educated men, or those who perceived that their partners may have sex with other people, continue to have high-risk behaviors that increase their own risks of acquiring syphilis and may also facilitate HIV transmission. New strategies need to be developed for HIV primary care providers to help HIV-infectedpatients maintain safer sex practices.
Entities:
Keywords:
Clinic-based HIV prevention; HIV risk-reduction counseling; HIV-infected men; Men who have sex with men; Rural HIV population; Syphilis
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