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Sexual behaviour patterns and STI risk: results of a cluster analysis among men who have sex with men in Portugal

dc.contributor.authorBlondeel, Karel
dc.contributor.authorDias, Sonia
dc.contributor.authorFuregato, Martina
dc.contributor.authorSeuc, Armando
dc.contributor.authorGama, Ana
dc.contributor.authorFuertes, Ricardo
dc.contributor.authorMendão, Luís
dc.contributor.authorTemmerman, Marleen
dc.contributor.authorToskin, Igor
dc.date.accessioned2024-07-03T14:24:06Z
dc.date.available2024-07-03T14:24:06Z
dc.date.issued2021-01-22
dc.description.abstractObjectives Portugal has the highest HIV incidence rate in Western Europe. The proportion assigned to sexual contact between men recently increased to more than 30% of all HIV infections. Men who have sex with men (MSM) are vulnerable to the acquisition of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), increasing the per-contact risk of HIV infection. Building on syndemic theory, the aim of this analysis was to identify patterns of current sexual behaviour in MSM, and explore their relationship with self-reported current, past STI diagnoses and HIV positive serostatus. Design A cross-sectional behavioural survey was conducted in Portugal among MSM, using a community-based participatory research approach. Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to identify patterns including behavioural and demographic factors. Results The analysis resulted in six clusters. Three clusters showed higher rates of current STI diagnosis (ranging from 11.7% to 17.1%), past STI diagnosis (ranging from 25.5% to 41.5%) and HIV positive serostatus (ranging from 13.0% to 16.7%). From the three clusters scoring lower on current and past STI and HIV diagnoses, one was characterised by a high number of sexual partners (62% had more than 12 partners in the last year), a high proportion (94.6%) of frequent visits to gay venues to meet sexual partners and high alcohol use (46.1%). The other two clusters scored lower on high risk sexual behaviour. Conclusion Factors other than sexual behaviour appear to reinforce the vulnerability to STIs and HIV of some MSM in this study, suggesting a syndemic of STIs, HIV and other adverse conditions. More research is needed to better understand the drivers of the STI/HIV epidemic in Portuguese MSM, using a concept that goes beyond risk behaviour, to develop effective combination prevention interventions.pt_PT
dc.description.versioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionpt_PT
dc.identifier.doi10.1136/bmjopen-2019-033290pt_PT
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10400.26/51193
dc.language.isoengpt_PT
dc.peerreviewedyespt_PT
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/pt_PT
dc.subjectSexually transmitted infectionspt_PT
dc.subjectMen who have sex with menpt_PT
dc.subjectSexual behaviourpt_PT
dc.subjectHIVpt_PT
dc.titleSexual behaviour patterns and STI risk: results of a cluster analysis among men who have sex with men in Portugalpt_PT
dc.typejournal article
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.citation.issue1pt_PT
oaire.citation.startPagee033290pt_PT
oaire.citation.titleBMJ Openpt_PT
oaire.citation.volume11pt_PT
person.familyNameFuertes
person.familyNamePenim Mendão
person.givenNameRicardo
person.givenNameLuís Manuel
person.identifierAAW-2241-2021
person.identifier.ciencia-idA615-08E1-6C13
person.identifier.ciencia-idAA16-B94D-A1A0
person.identifier.orcid0000-0002-8562-2014
person.identifier.orcid0000-0001-7595-4499
rcaap.rightsopenAccesspt_PT
rcaap.typearticlept_PT
relation.isAuthorOfPublication16c8ffa4-73eb-479b-a64f-ba317a6dcd89
relation.isAuthorOfPublication29ca9078-add3-4e8b-a989-42af18fac73b
relation.isAuthorOfPublication.latestForDiscovery16c8ffa4-73eb-479b-a64f-ba317a6dcd89

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