Factors Associated with Sexually Transmitted Viral Infection in Young Men who have Sex with Men in the United States Open Access

Abstract

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at a disproportionately higher risk of sexually transmitted infections compared to men who have sex with women and further research is needed to determine factors associated with contracting viral STIs; hepatitis, herpes simplex virus II, (HSV-2) genital warts and human papillomavirus (HPV.) Using data from a national cross-sectional survey of MSM in the U.S. in 2017, the aim of this study is to examine predictors of ever being diagnosed with a viral STI among MSM. Logistic regression models were conducted using SAS v9.4 to calculate unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios and 95% Wald Confidence limits for two models, measuring factors associated with being diagnosed with any viral STI among MSM ages 18-29. There were significant differences in prevalence of all viral STIs by HIV status so two models were conducted, one to discover trends among all MSM and another for HIV-negative MSM.  Among all MSM, bacterial STI diagnoses (aPOR=2.29, 95% CI: 1.62-3.22) and being HIV positive (aPOR=2.82 95% CI: 1.47-5.42) were positively associated with being diagnosed with a viral STI. Being heterosexual or bisexual compared to homosexual was negatively associated with having a viral STI diagnosis. (aPOR=.58, 95% CI: .36-.93) Among men ages 18-29 who reported being HIV negative, PrEP use (aPOR=2.68, 95% CI: 1.84-3.91) and diagnosis of a bacterial STI (aPOR=2.63, 95% CI: 1.83-3.77) were positively associated with having a viral STI diagnosis. In conclusion, further research needs to be conducted to discover if these trends are generalizable to other men who did not participate in this survey and health care providers should continue to test MSM for viral STIs and to educate their patients, particularly those on PrEP, about the risks of viral STIs. Reduction of STI infection rates among MSM could aid in reducing the burden of disease associated with HIV and cancer that disproportionately affect MSM in the United States.

Table of Contents

Introduction: 1-2

Methods: 3-4

Results: 4-7

Discussion: 7-10

References: 10-11

Tables: 12-18

About this Master's Thesis

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School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Epidemiology
Degree	M.P.H.
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Health Sciences, Epidemiology
Keyword	STD viral infections MSM herpes Sexually transmitted infections human papilomavirus STI hepatitis
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Chamberlain, Allison, Emory University
Committee Members	Jones, Jeb, Emory University
Partnering Agencies	Emory University schools, faculty or affiliated programs

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