Correlates of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in a primary care sentinel surveillance network

Sexual Health ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan S. C. Lim ◽  
Jane L. Goller ◽  
Rebecca Guy ◽  
Judy Gold ◽  
Mark Stoove ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Control Strategies ◽  
Routine Data ◽  
Sex Partners ◽  
Surveillance Network ◽  
Inconsistent Condom ◽  
Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection ◽  
Multiple Sex Partners ◽  
The Past ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
The Impact

Background Chlamydia is the most commonly notified infection in Australia. Prevention strategies should be informed by routine data on at-risk populations. Methods: We calculated chlamydia positivity and correlates of infection using multivariable logistic regression for data collected between April 2006 and June 2009. Results: Chlamydia positivity was 5.6% in 12 233 females, 7.7% in 10 316 heterosexual males and 6.2% in 7872 men who have sex with men (MSM). Correlates of chlamydia positivity among females included younger age (odds ratio (OR) 2.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.92–2.69), being born overseas (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.25–1.82), multiple sex partners in the past year (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.40–2.11) and inconsistent condom use with regular sex partners (OR 3.44 ,95% CI 1.65–7.20). Sex work was protective for females (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.53–0.86). Among heterosexual males, correlates of positivity were younger age (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.62–2.17), being born overseas (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.16–1.58), symptoms at the time of testing (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.40–1.92) and multiple sex partners in the past year (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.46–2.30). Correlates of positivity among MSM were being born overseas (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.00–1.51), being HIV-positive (OR 1.80, 95%CI 1.32–2.47), and reporting six or more anal sex partners in the past 6 months (OR 4.45, 95% CI 1.37–14.5). Conclusions: Our analysis identified subgroups at the highest risk of chlamydia in Victoria. These estimates will provide important baseline information to measure the impact of chlamydia control strategies.

Trends and predictors of recent HIV testing over 22 years among a clinic sample of men who have sex with men in South Australia

Sexual Health ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Li ◽  
Peng Bi ◽  
Alison Ward ◽  
Charlotte Bell ◽  
Christopher K. Fairley
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Medical Records ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Injecting Drug Use ◽  
Sex Partners ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Multiple Sex Partners ◽  
The Past ◽  
Sex With Men

Background Increasing the frequency of HIV testing is crucial for effective HIV prevention and care. The aim of the present study was to determine whether there has been a change in HIV testing among men who have sex with men (MSM) at the South Australia Specialist Sexual Health (SASSH) clinic over the past two decades. Methods: Computerised medical records of MSM who attended the SASSH at their first visit between 1994 and 2015 were used to determine whether HIV testing had changed among MSM. First HIV tests in each calendar year and return tests within 12 months were analysed. Factors associated with recent HIV testing were also examined. Results: There were 24 036 HIV tests conducted among 8163 individual MSM over the study period. The proportion of newly registered MSM who reported ever being tested for HIV declined (Ptrend = 0.030), the proportion who reported recent HIV testing did not change (Ptrend = 0.955) and the proportion who have had current HIV testing increased (Ptrend = 0.008). The proportion of MSM who returned to the clinic for HIV testing within 12 months did not change (Ptrend >0.05), with less than 40% of MSM returning for HIV testing. Factors independently associated with recent HIV testing included MSM aged ≥20 years, (odds ratio (OR) 1.79; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.53–2.10), higher education (OR 1.28; 95% CI 1.12–1.45), non-Caucasian (African OR 1.68; 95% CI 1.30–2.17), having multiple sex partners (OR 1.47; 95% CI 1.29–1.69), having had sex interstate (OR 1.61; 95% CI 1.42–1.82) or overseas (OR 1.53; 95% CI 1.33–1.76) and injecting drug use (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.29–1.88). Conclusions: HIV testing rate among MSM attending SASSH was suboptimal. New approaches are needed to increase the uptake and early detection of HIV infection among the high-priority MSM population.

Spirituality, Religiosity, Shame and Guilt as Predictors of Sexual Attitudes and Experiences

2007 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 222-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly M. Murray ◽  
Joseph W. Ciarrocchi ◽  
Nichole A. Murray-Swank
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Sexual Attitudes ◽  
Sexual Practices ◽  
Sex Partners ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Multiple Sex Partners ◽  
The Past ◽  
Multiple Partners ◽  
Shame And Guilt ◽  
The Relationship

This study examines the relationship among levels of spirituality, religiosity, shame, and guilt on sexual attitudes and experiences. A convenience sample that included graduate and undergraduate students (N = 176; mean age = 37) completed a five-factor measure of personality as well as measures of spirituality, religiosity, shame, guilt, and sexual attitudes and experiences. Spirituality was negatively correlated with sexual permissiveness, and engaging in high risk sex. The moral emotion of shame increased when people had multiple sex partners within the past three months while those more spiritual or connected to God were less likely to have had sex after use of alcohol and/or drugs. Also, the more often someone attended religious services the less likely they were to have had multiple partners within the past three months. A sense of alienation from God predicted shame and guilt, but shame and guilt themselves did not predict sexual practices. These findings suggest that sexual attitudes and experiences are related to both spirituality and religious practices independently of personality, whereas they have no relationship to shame and guilt.

Risk factors for HIV seroconversion in men who have sex with men in Victoria, Australia: results from a sentinel surveillance system

Sexual Health ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca J. Guy ◽  
Tim Spelman ◽  
Mark Stoove ◽  
Carol El-Hayek ◽  
Jane Goller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Incidence ◽  
Sex Partners ◽  
Anal Sex ◽  
Hiv Diagnosis ◽  
Inconsistent Condom ◽  
The Past ◽  
Incidence Estimate ◽  
Hiv Seroconversion ◽  
Public Health Officials ◽  
Sex With Men

Objectives HIV diagnosis rates in men who have sex with men (MSM) began increasing in Australia 10 years ago, and there has been a major resurgence of syphilis. We determined predictors of HIV positivity and seroconversion among MSM in Victoria, Australia. Methods: We conducted a retrospective longitudinal analysis of data from MSM who underwent HIV testing between April 2006 and June 2009 at three primary care clinics. Logistic regression was used to determine predictors of HIV positivity and seroconversion. Results: During the study period, 7857 MSM tested for HIV. Overall HIV positivity was 1.86% (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.6–2.2). There were 3272 repeat testers followed for 4837 person-years (PY); 60 seroconverted and HIV incidence was 1.24 (95% CI: 0.96–1.60) per 100 PY. Independent predictors of HIV seroconversion were: an infectious syphilis diagnosis within the last 2 years (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.1–5.7), reporting six or more anal sex partners in the past 6 months (AHR = 3.3, 95% CI: 1.8–6.3), reporting an HIV-positive current regular partner (AHR = 3.4, 95% CI: 1.1–10.6) and reporting inconsistent condom use with casual partners in the past 6 months (AHR = 4.4, 95% CI: 1.7–11.5). Conclusion: Our results call for HIV prevention to target high-risk MSM, including men with a recent syphilis diagnosis or a high numbers of partners, men who have unprotected anal sex with casual partners and men in serodiscordant relationships. The HIV incidence estimate will provide a baseline to enable public health officials to measure the effectiveness of future strategies.

scholarly journals The influence of the freshwater environment and the biological characteristics of Atlantic salmon smolts on their subsequent marine survival

2012 ◽  
Vol 69 (9) ◽  
pp. 1563-1573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian C. Russell ◽  
Miran W. Aprahamian ◽  
Jon Barry ◽  
Ian C. Davidson ◽  
Peder Fiske ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Salmon ◽  
Average Rate ◽  
Biological Characteristics ◽  
Freshwater Environment ◽  
The Past ◽  
Environmental Migration ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Freshwater Habitats ◽  
Marine Survival ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Russell, I. C., Aprahamian, M. W., Barry, J., Davidson, I. C., Fiske, P., Ibbotson, A. T., Kennedy, R. J., Maclean, J. C., Moore, A., Otero, J., Potter, E. C. E., and Todd, C. D. 2012. The influence of the freshwater environment and the biological characteristics of Atlantic salmon smolts on their subsequent marine survival. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 69: 1563–1573. Atlantic salmon have declined markedly in the past 20–30 years throughout their range. Much of the focus for this decline has been on increased mortality during the marine phase of the life cycle. However, marine mortality does not operate independently of factors acting in freshwater and the biological characteristics of smolts migrating to sea. Over recent decades, juvenile salmon in many rivers have grown faster and migrated to sea at a younger age, so have been typically smaller than earlier. This has shortened the generation time for many individuals and may dampen the impact of increased marine mortality, assuming that expected higher in-river survival prior to smolting is not outweighed by increased mortality of smaller smolts at sea. Over the same period, smolt run-timing across the geographic range has been earlier, at an average rate of almost 3 d per decade. This has given rise to growing concerns about smolts potentially missing the optimum environmental migration “window”, the timing of which may also be changing. Contaminants and other factors operating in freshwater also impact smolt quality with adverse consequences for their physiological readiness for life at sea. Given that managers have very limited ability to influence the broad scale factors limiting salmon survival at sea, it is vital that freshwater habitats are managed to both maximize the smolt output and to minimize the impact of factors acting in freshwater that may compromise salmon once they migrate to sea.

Syphilis in heterosexual women: case characteristics and risk factors for recent syphilis infection in Tokyo, Japan, 2017–2018

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (13) ◽  
pp. 1272-1281
Author(s):  
Shingo Nishiki ◽  
Yuzo Arima ◽  
Takuya Yamagishi ◽  
Takashi Hamada ◽  
Takuri Takahashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Serological Tests ◽  
Inconsistent Condom ◽  
Syphilis Infection ◽  
The Past ◽  
Single Sex ◽  
Heterosexual Women ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
History Of

In response to an increase in heterosexual syphilis notifications in Tokyo, we conducted a questionnaire-based case–control study among women aged ≥20 years and sexually active in the past six months who sought a syphilis test in Tokyo during 2017–2018. Cases were women diagnosed as recent syphilis infection based on serological tests. Controls were serologically non-reactive or those with only a past syphilis infection. We described cases and assessed for risk factors of recent syphilis using logistic regression. A total of 524 women (60 cases, 464 controls) were enrolled. Notably, among cases, 10 (16.7%) were students, 3 (5.0%) had a history of syphilis, and 14 (23.3%) had a single sex partner in the past six months. Female sex worker (FSW) status was strongly associated with syphilis (odds ratio [OR] = 3.40; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.96–5.90). In multivariable analysis, recent syphilis was associated with inconsistent condom use for vaginal/anal sex among FSWs (adjusted OR [aOR] = 3.42; 95%CI = 0.92–12.70) and among non-FSWs, with younger age (aOR = 0.36; 95%CI = 0.19–0.70; increase per category from 20–24, 25–29 to ≥30 years) and ≤high school education (aOR = 5.24; 95%CI = 1.95–14.10). A notable proportion of cases were those with first time infection and those with only a single partner. Moreover, risk factors differed between FSWs and non-FSWs, and a multi-pronged approach to prevent syphilis is required.

scholarly journals PrEP Use Awareness and Interest Cascade among MSM and Transgender Women Living in Bali, Indonesia

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 158
Author(s):  
Rissa Cempaka ◽  
Brigitta Wardhani ◽  
Anak Agung Sagung Sawitri ◽  
Pande Putu Januraga ◽  
Benjamin Bavinton
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Transgender Women ◽  
Sex Partners ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Inconsistent Condom ◽  
Multiple Sex Partners

Indonesia has not implemented HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) despite global calls for its scale-up, and there is limited information about attitudes towards PrEP among its potential users. We aim to present a PrEP cascade among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (known locally as “waria”) in Denpasar, Bali, from a cross-sectional survey with 220 HIV-negative MSM/waria recruited from one clinic in Denpasar. Only 16.4% of participants had heard of PrEP before. From first-to-last steps included in the cascade, we found 77.3% (170/220) of participants were classified with HIV high risk, 75.9% (129/170) perceived themselves as being at high risk, 81.4% (105/129) expressed interest in using PrEP, 78.1% (82/105) were willing to do PrEP procedures, 48.8% (40/82) were willing to pay 500,000–600,000 IDR, and only two participants had ever been on PrEP before (5.0% of those willing to pay and 0.9% of the total sample). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that self-perception of high HIV risk was lower among older age groups (p < 0.001 among 30–39; p = 0.002 among > 40) and higher among participants with multiple sex partners (p = 0.016). Interest in using PrEP was lower among participants with high social engagement as MSM/waria (p = 0.002) and was higher among participants with multiple sex partners (p = 0.020) and inconsistent condom use (p = 0.011). This study has shown a significantly low level of PrEP awareness among its participants and decreases in interest in PrEP use due to procedure and cost. It suggested that an appropriate PrEP campaign is needed if PrEP is going to be introduced in Indonesia.

Factors Associated with Trichomoniasis, Candidiasis and Bacterial Vaginosis

1993 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gavin Hart
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Vaginosis ◽  
Sexual Transmission ◽  
Oral Contraception ◽  
Sex Partners ◽  
Vaginal Infection ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Multiple Sex Partners ◽  
The Past ◽  
Dual Infections

Of 6125 women attending an STD clinic from 1988 to 1991, 5365 (88%) were tested for vaginitis of whom 97 (1.8%) had trichomoniasis, 945 (17.6%) had candidiasis, 734 (13.7%) had bacterial vaginosis and 3628 (67.6%) were free of vaginal infection. Dual infections occurred in 49 (0.9%) patients. Independent predictors for trichomoniasis by multivariate analysis were being pregnant (odds ratio (OR)=2.4), having vaginal discharge or dysuria (OR=4.7), being Aboriginal (OR=4.3), being Asian (OR=5.0), being unemployed (OR=2.1) or tattoed (OR=1.9). Many factors, including use of oral contraception (OR=1.2) and current antibiotic medication (OR=1.5), had a small significant association with candidiasis. Independent predictors for bacterial vaginosis were having multiple sex partners in the past month (OR=1.6), being unmarried (OR=1.5), being unemployed (OR=1.3) being a prostitute (OR=1.5) and not currently using antibiotic medication (OR=2.5). The epidemiological profiles were consistent with trichomoniasis and bacterial vaginosis being sexually transmitted diseases with epidemiology different from that of gonorrhoea and chlamydia and different from each other, and candidiasis being a disease in which constitutional factors are more important than issues relating to sexual transmission.

Fluorescent potentiometric dyes for membrane-potential imaging

1994 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 166-167
Author(s):  
Leslie M. Loew
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Single Cells ◽  
Quantitative Imaging ◽  
Optical Recording ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Major Focus ◽  
The Past ◽  
Excitable Systems ◽  
Major Application ◽  
The Impact

A major application of potentiometric dyes has been the multisite optical recording of electrical activity in excitable systems. After being championed by L.B. Cohen and his colleagues for the past 20 years, the impact of this technology is rapidly being felt and is spreading to an increasing number of neuroscience laboratories. A second class of experiments involves using dyes to image membrane potential distributions in single cells by digital imaging microscopy - a major focus of this lab. These studies usually do not require the temporal resolution of multisite optical recording, being primarily focussed on slow cell biological processes, and therefore can achieve much higher spatial resolution. We have developed 2 methods for quantitative imaging of membrane potential. One method uses dual wavelength imaging of membrane-staining dyes and the other uses quantitative 3D imaging of a fluorescent lipophilic cation; the dyes used in each case were synthesized for this purpose in this laboratory.

Food Safety Security: A new Concept for Enhancing Food Safety Measures

2012 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 216-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Venkatesh Iyengar ◽  
Ibrahim Elmadfa
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Hazard Analysis ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Shared Responsibility ◽  
Fine Tuning ◽  
Strategic Action ◽  
Surveillance Network ◽  
Measurement Systems ◽  
Critical Control Points ◽  
The Impact

The food safety security (FSS) concept is perceived as an early warning system for minimizing food safety (FS) breaches, and it functions in conjunction with existing FS measures. Essentially, the function of FS and FSS measures can be visualized in two parts: (i) the FS preventive measures as actions taken at the stem level, and (ii) the FSS interventions as actions taken at the root level, to enhance the impact of the implemented safety steps. In practice, along with FS, FSS also draws its support from (i) legislative directives and regulatory measures for enforcing verifiable, timely, and effective compliance; (ii) measurement systems in place for sustained quality assurance; and (iii) shared responsibility to ensure cohesion among all the stakeholders namely, policy makers, regulators, food producers, processors and distributors, and consumers. However, the functional framework of FSS differs from that of FS by way of: (i) retooling the vulnerable segments of the preventive features of existing FS measures; (ii) fine-tuning response systems to efficiently preempt the FS breaches; (iii) building a long-term nutrient and toxicant surveillance network based on validated measurement systems functioning in real time; (iv) focusing on crisp, clear, and correct communication that resonates among all the stakeholders; and (v) developing inter-disciplinary human resources to meet ever-increasing FS challenges. Important determinants of FSS include: (i) strengthening international dialogue for refining regulatory reforms and addressing emerging risks; (ii) developing innovative and strategic action points for intervention {in addition to Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) procedures]; and (iii) introducing additional science-based tools such as metrology-based measurement systems.

Perceived Burden of Informal Caregivers of a Chronically Ill Older Family Member

GeroPsych ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 143-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elmar Gräßel ◽  
Raffaela Adabbo
Keyword(s):  
Family Member ◽  
Informal Caregiver ◽  
Chronically Ill ◽  
Stress Model ◽  
The Past ◽  
Perceived Burden ◽  
Hypothetical Construct ◽  
Care Situation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Further Development

The burden of caregivers has been intensively researched for the past 30 years and has resulted in a multitude of individual findings. This review illustrates the significance of the hypothetical construct of perceived burden for the further development and design of the homecare situation. Following explanations regarding the term informal caregiver, we derive the construct burden from its conceptual association with the transactional stress model of Lazarus and Folkman. Once the extent and characteristics of burden have been set forth, we then present the impact of perceived burden as the care situation. The question of predictors of burden will lead into the last section from which implications can be derived for homecare and relief of caregivers.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document