Correlates of sexually transmitted diseases in a young male deployed military population.
OBJECTIVE
To examine risk factors of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in a non-clinic-based sample of young male military personnel.


METHODS
A total of 1,028 enlisted U.S. Marines completed a self-report survey querying sexual behaviors in the previous 3 months and provided urine specimens for STD screening by nucleic acid amplification testing for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Risk for STDs was assessed using a composite Sexual Risk Index. Recent STD infection was defined as a positive result on urine-based screening for chlamydial and/or gonococcal infection and/or a history of STDs in the past 3 months.


RESULTS
Recent STDs were identified in 76 men (7.4%): 42 (4.1%) were diagnosed with a chlamydial infection with no gonorrhea found, and 34 (3.3%) reported a history of STDs. Men with the highest score on the Sexual Risk Index were 2.6 times more likely to have a current STD compared with those at lowest risk (odds ratio = 2.6, confidence interval = 1.01, 6.2).


CONCLUSIONS
Use of a composite measure of risk can identify the most significant factors associated with recent STDs in young military men. Such an index may be useful to target STD screening for those at greatest risk for STDs.
Shafer
Mary-Ann
MA
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California Street, Suite 245, San Francisco, CA 94143-0503, USA. shafer@itsa.ucsf.edu
Boyer
Cherrie B
CB
Shaffer
Richard A
RA
Schachter
Julius
J
Ito
Stanley I
SI
Brodine
Stephanie K
SK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology