Factors associated with sexually transmitted infections in men and women

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remains a serious healthcare problem costing approximately 13 billion dollars annually to treat. Men and women who contract STIs have a higher risk for reinfection and for developing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Determining the risk factors associated with STIs in a community would be helpful in designing culturally appropriate tailored interventions to reduce spread of STIs.

The purpose of this retrospective chart review was to determine the frequency and type of STIs, as well as to determine the predictor variables associated with STIs among those seeking treatment at a local inner city health unit.

A total of 237 medical records were reviewed from a STI clinic. The sample comprised 119 men and 118 women, of whom 70.9% were African American. The mean age was 27, and 38% had a prior STI. Men used significantly more condoms (chi(2) = 24.28, p = 0.000), had more sexual partners (chi(2) = 18.36, p = 0.003), and had more prior infections of gonorrhea (chi(2) = 10.04, p =0.002) than women. Women had significantly more prior infections of Chlamydia (chi(2) = 11.74, p = 0.001). Using no type of birth control measures (pills, diaphragm, implants) was a significant predictor of number of sexual partners (t = 2.441, p < 0.015), but negatively associated with condom use (t = -12.290, p < 0.000).

Over one-third had a prior STI, indicating that individuals do not perceive themselves to be at risk for another STI, and choose not to use condoms. Reasons why individuals continue to put themselves at risk need to be explored in gender specific focus groups so that tailored sexual risk reduction programs can be designed to meet the needs of different communities.