title: Prevalence of HIV, syphilis, and other sexually transmitted infections among MSM from three cities in Panama.
abstract: Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) was used to conduct a biobehavioral survey among men who have sex with men (MSM) in three cities in the Republic of Panama. We estimated the prevalence of HIV, syphilis, and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), sociodemographic characteristics, and sexual risk behaviors. Among 603 MSM recruited, RDS-adjusted seroprevalences (95 % confidence intervals) were: HIV-David 6.6 % (2.2-11.4 %), Panama 29.4 % (19.7-39.7 %), and Colon 32.6 % (18.0-47.8 %); active syphilis-David 16.0 % (8.9-24.2 %), Panama 24.7 % (16.7-32.9 %), Colon 31.6 % (14.8-47.5 %); resolved HBV infection-David 10.0 % (4.8-16.8 %), Panama 29.4 % (20.0-38.3 %), and Colon 40.6 % (21.9-54.4 %); herpes simplex virus type 2-David 38.4 % (27.9-48.9 %), Panama 62.6 % (52.8-71.0 %), and Colon 72.9 % (57.4-85.8 %). At least a third of MSM in each city self-identified as heterosexual or bisexual. HIV prevalence is concentrated among MSM. Preventive interventions should focus on increasing HIV and syphilis testing, and increasing promotion of condom awareness and use.
authors.affiliation: United States Military HIV Research Program, Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA, shakre@hivresearch.org.
authors.forename: Shilpa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hakre
authors.forename: Griselda B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Arteaga
authors.forename: Aurelio E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Núñez
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arambu
authors.forename: Bulbulgul
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aumakhan
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Sheila A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Peel
authors.forename: Juan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pascale
authors.forename: Paul T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010176:Panama / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult