title: Demographics, sexual behaviour and STD/HIV prevalence in two groups of men who have sex with men, in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
abstract: This study was performed to investigate whether men who have sex with men visiting the sexually transmitted diseases clinic, and those participating in a gay cohort were different with regard to demographic characteristics, sexual behaviour and sexually transmitted diseases (STD)/human immunodeficiency (HIV) virus prevalence. Data from men who have sex with men presenting at the sexually transmitted diseases clinic (group I; n = 318) were compared with data from men participating in a cohort (group II; n = 286). All males underwent a routine venereological examination. Men in group II were more often older (p < 0.0005), of Dutch descent (p < 0.0005) and had more sex partners (p < 0.0005). New cases of HIV infection were detected far more often in group I (p = 0.04). Also, urethral gonococcal infection was significantly more prevalent in group I (p = 0.003). Multivariate analyses showed that males presenting at the STD clinic (group I) were at higher risk for urethral gonorrhoea. The higher prevalence of HIV infection in group I was associated with a higher prevalence of recent STD, more concomitant urethral gonorrhoea infections at the time of visit, over 10 sex partners in the previous 6 months, and non-Dutch descent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. e.vandersnoek@erasmusmc.nl
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van der Snoek
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Wit
authors.forename: Hannelore
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Götz
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mulder
authors.forename: Adrie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van 'T Hof
authors.forename: Roel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Verkooyen
authors.forename: Willem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van der Meijden
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003880:Dermatology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011336:Probability; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015996:Survival Rate