title: Seroprevalence and correlates of hepatitis a among HIV-negative American men who have sex with men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis A outbreaks are well documented among men who have sex with men (MSM). This analysis examines characteristics associated with hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection among a large group of young adult MSM from five USA cities.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Young Men's Survey was a cross-sectional prevalence study of HIV infection and related behavioural risk factors among MSM aged 15-29 years during 1994-2000. Serum specimens from HIV-negative participants were retrospectively tested for antibodies to HAV (anti-HAV). Data were stratified by ethnicity and analysed with logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall anti-HAV prevalence was 18.4% among the 2708 participants, and varied by ethnicity from 6.9 to 45.3% and was highest among Hispanic and Asian men (P < 0.001). Prevalence increased with age across all racial/ethnic groups. Among white men, anti-HAV positivity was associated with having 20 or more lifetime male sex partners for those aged 15-22 years (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=2.1, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.0-4.1) and ever having had unprotected anal sex for those aged 23-29 years (AOR=2.4, 95% CI=1.2-4.5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Factors associated with a history of HAV infection among MSM in non-outbreak settings are probably similar to those among non-MSM. MSM are still at risk for HAV infection as a result of outbreaks occurring in MSM communities. Additional studies of hepatitis A vaccination coverage are needed to determine if strategies to vaccinate MSM are adequate.
authors.affiliation: Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30030, USA. Sbialek@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Stephanie R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Bialek
authors.forename: Vaughn
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: Beth P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Linda A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Valleroy
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Behel
authors.forename: Duncan A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Mackellar
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Secura
authors.forename: Hanne
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thiede
authors.forename: Willi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: McFarland
authors.forename: Wesley L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: Trista A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Bingham
authors.forename: Douglas A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Shehan
authors.forename: David D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Celentano
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence / Q000639:trends*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014481:United States; D047568:Unsafe Sex; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines