Increasing sexually transmitted infection rates in young men having sex with men in the Netherlands, 2006–2012

Abstract

BackgroundMen having sex with men (MSM) remain the largest high-risk group involved in on-going transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STI), including HIV, in the Netherlands. As risk behaviour may change with age, it is important to explore potential heterogeneity in risks by age. To improve our understanding of this epidemic, we analysed the prevalence of and risk factors for selected STI in MSM attending STI clinics in the Netherlands by age group.MethodsAnalysis of data from the national STI surveillance system for the period 2006–2012. Selected STI were chlamydia, gonorrhoea, infectious syphilis and/or a new HIV infection. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with these selected STI and with overall STI positivity. Analyses were done separately for MSM aged younger than 25 years and MSM aged 25 years and older.ResultsIn young MSM a significant increase in positivity rate was seen over time (p < 0.01), mainly driven by increasing gonorrhoea diagnoses, while in MSM aged 25 and older a significant decrease was observed (p < 0.01). In multivariate analyses for young MSM, those who were involved in commercial sex were at higher risk (OR: 1.5, 95% CI: 1.2-1.9). For MSM aged 25 years and older this was not the case. Having a previous negative HIV test was protective among older MSM compared to those not tested for HIV before (OR: 0.8, 95% CI: 0.8-0.8), but not among younger MSM.ConclusionsMSM visiting STI clinics remain a high-risk group for STI infections and transmission, but are not a homogenous group. While in MSM aged older than 25 years, STI positivity rate is decreasing, positivity rate in young MSM increased over time. Therefore specific attention needs to be paid towards targeted counselling and reaching particular MSM sub-groups, taken into account different behavioural profiles.

Viral load strategy: impact on risk behaviour and serocommunication of men who have sex with men in specialized care

“…Incidence and prevalence of HIV are continuously high in German men, who have sex with men (MSM), 1,2 paired with a rising incidence of other sexually transmitted infections. [3][4][5][6] Thus, the identification of sexual risk behaviour determining factors is of central interest.…”

Seksuele communicatie en aan seksualiteit gerelateerd internetgebruik onder homo- en biseksuele jongeren

“…Homoseksuele jongens en biseksuele meisjes krijgen bijvoorbeeld veel vaker dan hun heteroseksuele seksegenoten te maken met verschillende vormen van seksueel grensoverschrijdend gedrag (Vermey et al, 2014). Niet alleen zijn mannen die seks hebben met mannen (MSM) de grootste risicogroep voor hiv en andere soa's, ook is het aantal jaarlijkse soa-en hiv-diagnoses onder jonge MSM sinds 2006 gestaag gestegen (Koedijk, Van Benthem, Vrolings, Zuilhof, & Van der Sande, 2014). Wat wel opvallend is, is dat niet meer homoseksuele jongens en biseksuele meisjes dan heterojongeren deze onderwerpen met hun ouders bespreken.…”

“…Homo-erotisch materiaal waarin geen condooms gebruikt worden lijkt van invloed te zijn op de intentie tot condoomgebruik (Jonas, Hawk, Vastenburg, & De Groot, 2014). De invloed van seksueel expliciet materiaal op seksuele normstelling, seksgedrag en condoomgebruik van jongeren is dus een belangrijk thema, met name in het kader van hiv-en soa-preventie onder homo-en biseksuele jongens (Koedijk et al 2014).…”

Inclusion of a broader range of sexual orientations to strengthen the validity and generalizability of findings

“…5 High-risk groups drive STI transmission, with men having sex with men being the largest single high-risk group in many countries. 6 Of particular significance is the higher rates of STI in young MSM. 6 By excluding those not "completely heterosexual", 2240 students were not eligible to participate in the study.…”

“…6 Of particular significance is the higher rates of STI in young MSM. 6 By excluding those not "completely heterosexual", 2240 students were not eligible to participate in the study. This exclusion may be viewed as offensive and discriminatory by some students and possibly affected the survey response rate.…”