STI History and Healthcare Use Among MSM in Germany
Author Information
Author(s): Axel J. Schmidt, Ulrich Marcus
Primary Institution: Robert Koch Institute, Department for Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Berlin, Germany
Hypothesis
How do self-reported histories of STIs and healthcare utilization differ among men who have sex with men based on their HIV status?
Conclusion
HIV-positive men who have sex with men report higher rates of STIs, likely due to more frequent testing compared to their HIV-negative counterparts.
Supporting Evidence
- HIV-positive MSM reported screening offers for STIs three to seven times more often than HIV-negative or untested MSM.
- More than half of the respondents reported vaccination against hepatitis A/B.
- Shame and fear of homophobic reactions were the main barriers for STI-testing.
Takeaway
The study found that men who have sex with men and are HIV-positive are more likely to have STIs because they get tested more often than those who are HIV-negative.
Methodology
A sexual behaviour survey was conducted among MSM using an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire in 2006, with analysis stratified by HIV-serostatus.
Potential Biases
Self-selection bias may favor men with increased risk for HIV and STIs.
Limitations
The sample is a convenience sample and may not be representative of the entire MSM population in Germany.
Participant Demographics
The sample included 3,511 HIV-negative/unknown and 874 HIV-positive men, with a median age of 32 for HIV-negative and 40 for HIV-positive respondents.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 3.2-4.5
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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