Curable sexually transmitted Infections among a population of South African non-health seeking men who have sex with men who were invited for screening—a brief report

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study assessed sexually transmitted infection (STI) results among non-health-seeking men who have sex with men (MSM) who had not previously screened for curable STIs. METHODS: Secondary data analysis of a sample of 164 MSM who were STI infection naïve was performed. Data were collected in the Clinical Research Unit (MeCRU) among the MSM in the Tshwane North area, South Africa. RESULTS: Over half of the sample (58.5%; n = 96) were in casual relationships, 81.7% (n = 134) had reported testing for HIV in the previous 3 months, and 68.9% tested positive for STIs. Logistic regression revealed that the odds of a positive STI test result were significantly higher among those who had reportedly tested for HIV in the previous 3 months compared to those who had not (OR = 2.43; 95% CI = 1.06-5.69). CONCLUSION: The study revealed a high prevalence of STI among nonhealth-seeking MSM, and STI diagnosis was associated with having tested for HIV in the previous 3 months. It is, therefore, important to offer regular STIs screening services to the MSM community.