141st APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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284279
Sexually transmitted infections in an African-American population of the midwest United States


Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Monirul Islam, MD, PhD, Department of Epidemiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
Robin High, MS, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha
Veenu Minhas, University of Nebraska Lincoln, Lincoln
Ruth Margalit, MD, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
Background: Chlamydia and gonorrhea are the most commonly reported sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States. Douglas County in Nebraska has had continually higher rates of STIs since 2004 compared to national and state rates. Young adults and African-Americans have been disproportionately affected.

Objectives: The aims of the study were to estimate prevalence and to identify risk factors of chlamydia and gonorrhea among young adults.

Methods: We recruited 310 young adults of 19-25 years of age in a community-based cross-sectional survey between June 2011 and June 2012. A standardized questionnaire was used for collecting data on sociodemographics, behaviors, and risk factors of STIs. Urine samples were collected from the survey participants for testing gonorrhea and chlamydia status. Multivariable regression analyses were used to investigate risk factors of STIs.

Results: Among study participants 14.39% had at least one STI.. Higher education was protective (OR for high school education 0.25, 95% CI 0.10 - 0.60, OR for college education 0.12, 95% CI 0.01 - 1.07 compared to no completed schooling). No other predictor variable was significantly associated with STIs.

Conclusions: In-depth analysis of our data showed that the average age of first time sexual intercourse of the study participants is lower and the study participants reported more sexual partners compared to national young adults. Higher prevalence of certain STIs risk factors in the study population can explain the higher STIs rates. Epidemiological study is important to estimate the disease burden and to understand the local risk factors for higher STIs rates.

Learning Areas:

Epidemiology
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Identify risk factors and estimate prevalence of chlamydia and gonorrhea among young adults.

Keyword(s): Sexual Risk Behavior, STD

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am an infectious disease epidemiology faculty at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. I have conducted several individual and collaborative research. The current abstract id the product of my own research. I have been teaching infectious disease epidemiology for more than 5 years.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 5005.0: Infectious Disease Epidemiology 2 (Poster Session)