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Background: HIV-infected MSM are at greater risk of acquiring STDs, and if infected with a STD, transmitting HIV and STDs to partners. National guidelines recommend annual asymptomatic STD screening of sexually active HIV-infected persons.
Objectives: To estimate the frequency of HIV-infected MSM who reported high risk behaviors that were tested for STDs.
Methods: Data were analyzed from a survey of sexually active HIV-infected MSM receiving medical care in eight HIV clinics in six U.S. cities in 2007. We estimated the testing rates of self-reported chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, and the positivity rates among those who reported that they were tested, by risk behaviors during the year prior to the survey.
Results: Among 505 patients, 80.6% reported having more than one sex partner, 58.6% having clinicians who provided risk counseling, and 25% having not using a condom during the most recent receptive anal sex encounter in the past year. Of those 505 patients, 42% reported that they were tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea, and 52.7% for syphilis. Among those tested, 7.7% reported that they had been diagnosed with chlamydia or gonorrhea, and 8.9% with syphilis. After adjusting for independent variables such as demographic variables and symptom status, our logistic regressions found that patients were significantly more likely to be tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea if they had more than one sex partner, did not use condoms during their last receptive anal sex encounter, and had clinicians who provided risk counseling in the past year.
Conclusions: With a high proportion of men reporting STDs and suboptimal testing rates for these STDs, our findings suggests that providers need to better adhere to national guidelines that recommend annual STD screening of HIV-infected MSM.
Implications for Programs, Policy, and Research: Comprehensive HIV and STD prevention interventions targeting HIV-infected MSM should also include strategies to reduce high risk behaviors.