Rapid syphilis testing among young people: prevalence and associated factors
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Published on: January 24, 2025
William Caracas Moreira1,2,3, Leidyanny Barbosa de Medeiros2, Rute Xavier Silva2,3
1Universidade Federal do Ceará, Campos Porangabuçu, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
Objective:
to analyze the prevalence of rapid syphilis testing among young people and its associated factors.
Method:
cross-sectional study, conducted in two Testing and Counseling Centers. It involved 301 young people, whose information was collected using a validated instrument and analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, prevalence ratios, and logistic regression.
Results:
young people had a prevalence of 14.9% for rapid syphilis testing, with significant associations with sociodemographic factors (male gender, transgender identity, and non-heterosexual sexual orientation), socioeconomic factors (low income, independent living, and history of institutionalization), and behavioral factors (transactional sex, risky sexual practices, history of sexually transmitted infections, and drug use). Multivariate analysis confirmed higher odds of rapid syphilis testing among low-income, male youth with a history of sexually transmitted infections, reinforcing the vulnerability of these groups.
Conclusion:
In summary, the prevalence and factors associated with rapid syphilis testing among young people permeate an intersectional structure with multiple layers of vulnerabilities, encompassing sociodemographic, sociostructural, and behavioral dimensions.
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