title: Static behavioral effects on gonorrhea transmission dynamics in a MSM population.
abstract: An SIS/SAS model of gonorrhea transmission in a population of highly active men-having-sex-with-men (MSM) is presented in this paper to study the impact of safe behavior on the dynamics of gonorrhea prevalence. Safe behaviors may fall into two categories-prevention and self-awareness. Prevention will be modeled via consistent condom use and self-awareness via STD testing frequency. Stability conditions for the disease free equilibrium and endemic equilibrium are determined along with a complete analysis of global dynamics. The control reproductive number is used as a means for measuring the effect of changes to model parameters on the prevalence of the disease. We also find that appropriate intervention would be in the form of a multifaceted approach at overall risk reduction rather than tackling one specific control individually.
authors.affiliation: School of Human Evolution and Social Change, SHESC 233, P.O. Box 872402, Tempe, AZ 85287-2402, USA. brmorin@asu.edu
authors.forename: Benjamin R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Morin
authors.forename: Liana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Medina-Rios
authors.forename: Erika T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Camacho
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castillo-Chavez
mesh_terms: D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D015995:Prevalence; D021841:Safe Sex