Sexual Behavior Latent Classes Among Men Who Have Sex With Men: Associations With Sexually Transmitted Infections

Abstract

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at disproportionate risk of acquisition of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). We used latent class analysis (LCA) to examine patterns of sexual behavior among MSM and how those patterns are related to STIs. We examined patterns of sexual behavior using behavioral and clinical data from a cross-sectional study of 235 MSM who presented to an urban sexual health clinic for STI testing. Analyzed data were collected using a combination of interviewer- and self-administered surveys and electronic health records. We used LCA to identify underlying subgroups of men based on their sexual behavior, described the demographics of the latent classes, and examined the association between the latent classes and STI status. We identified three latent classes of sexual behavior: Unprotected Anal Intercourse (UAI) Only (67%), Partner Seekers (14%), and Multiple Behaviors (19%). Men in the Multiple Behaviors class had a 67% probability of being STI positive, followed by men in the UAI Only class (27%) and men in the Partner Seekers class (22%). Examining the intersection of a variety of sexual practices indicates particular subgroups of MSM have the highest probability of being STI positive.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Mysheika Williams Roberts, Jose Bazan, Maurizio Macaluso, and the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Wexner Medical Center at the Ohio State University for their support of this project. The authors thank the clinicians from Columbus Public Health Sexual Health Clinic and study volunteers (Alexandra Medoro, Aliza Spaeth-Cook, Angela Palmer-Wackerly, Chelsea Muyskens, Julie Anderson, Laura Drew, Samantha Lahey, and Tiffany Wang) for their assistance with data collection, and Amanda Applegate for her editing expertise.

Funding

This project was supported by the Ohio State University Center for Clinical and Translational Science (OSU CCTS). The OSU CCTS is supported by the National Center for Research Resources (UL1RR025755) and is now at the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (8UL1TR000090-05). This research was further supported by an award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (P50 DA039898). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, or the National Institutes of Health. The funding sources had no role in data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, writing of this report, or the decision to publish this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This project was supported by the Ohio State University Center for Clinical and Translational Science (OSU CCTS). The OSU CCTS is supported by the National Center for Research Resources (UL1RR025755) and is now at the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (8UL1TR000090-05). This research was further supported by an award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (P50 DA039898). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, or the National Institutes of Health. The funding sources had no role in data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, writing of this report, or the decision to publish this manuscript.