Examining self and partners for syphilis among men who have sex with men: five US cities, 2009-2011

• Authors: D Surie, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; B W Furness, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; P Hernandez-Kline, FIT Health Care Clinic; A Turner, Broward County Health Department; R C Perkins, WhitmanWalker-GMHW Clinic; M M Taylor, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; T Brewer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Kimberly Workowski, Emory University; K Gamerdinger, FIT Health Care Clinic; L E Markowitz, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Emilia Koumans, Emory University
• Journal Title: International Journal of STD and AIDS
• Volume: Volume 23, Number 12
• Publisher: SAGE Publications (UK and US) | 2012-12-01, Pages 859-861
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1258/ijsa.2012.012016
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Public Health; Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Immunology; Infectious Diseases; sexually transmitted infections; syphilis; Treponema pallidum; men who have sex with men; MSM; behavioural change; self-examination; health promotion

Abstract

To increase self-examination for syphilis among men who have sex with men (MSM), we developed educational materials to increase knowledge of primary and secondary syphilis manifestations. Materials were piloted in five cities' infectious disease or MSM clinics. Self- and partner-examination behaviour was assessed with an anonymous questionnaire. Of 1459 participants, 914 men had had sex with a man in the previous three months; the 171 MSM who reported having read the materials were significantly more likely to examine themselves (anus, adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] 1.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15-1.52), mouth, penis and skin, and their partners' anus (aPR 1.3, 95% CI 1.03-1.73) and mouth (aPR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.26). Further research is needed to determine whether educational materials affect early detection and treatment of primary and secondary syphilis and reduce transmission.