Factors Associated with Sexually Transmitted Diseases Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Mueang District, Khon Kaen

Abstract

This cross-sectional analytical study aimed to investigate the risk factors associated with sexually transmitted diseases of men who have sex with men in Mueang District, Khon Kaen Province. The participants were men who have sex with men. Two hundreds and forty-five individuals attending HIV care clinic at Srinagarind Hospital and Plai Fah Clinic, Medical Center at Knon Kaen Hospital were recruited on volunteer bias. The instrument used in the research was a questionnaire consisting of general demographic data, sexual behavior data during the past 12 months, illness history and access to sexually transmitted diseases services during the past 12 months, information on drugs abuse and intoxication, alcohol drinking in the past 12 months, knowledge about the sexually transmitted diseases. Data were collected during the month of February to March 2020. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the correlation between multiple independents were analyzed using multiple logistic regression.

The results showed that prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases in men who have sex with men in the past 12 months was 34.2%, classified by diseases as the highest Syphilis 41.4%, followed by Gonorrhea 20.8%, Wart of Genital and anus 16.7%, Herpes of genital and anal 11.5%, Chancroid 5.2%, Lymphogrannuloma Venereum 2.1% and Chlamydia 2.1%, respectively. The factors associated statistically significant (p<0.05) with the sexually transmitted diseases of men who have sex with men included those without an occupation (OR=3.34; 95% CI: 1.55 to 7.19), condomless before oral or anal sexual intercourse (OR=4.29; 95% CI: 2.06 to 8.92), never having a blood screening test for STDs (OR=0.16; 95% CI:  0.05 to 0.48), having sexual intercourse after use of drugs abuse and intoxication (OR=3.78; 95% CI: 1.29 to 11.01) and sexual intercourse after drinking alcoholic beverages (OR=2.92; 95% CI: 1.35 to 6.36).

The results of this study indicated that the health team should investigate the causes of risk behaviors in order to get useful information for preventing and reducing the spread of diseases such as conducting quasi-experimental study on health education program as well as various activities for behavioral changes in the target group. Furthermore, regular surveillance should be conducted to obtain up-to-date information for planning on prevention of sexually transmitted diseases among men who have sex with men properly.