Table 1.
Comparison of patients at risk versus patients not at risk, in % (Lausanne, 2005-2006)
| Variables | All | Risk | No risk | p value§ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recruitment site (N = 1431) | ||||
| General/internal medicine and emergencies* | 40.0 | 37.5 | 40.4 | < 0.001 |
| Dental clinic | 3.2 | 2.1 | 3.4 | |
| Travel clinic | 31.6 | 19.3 | 33.6 | |
| Anonymous HIV testing | 18.0 | 36.5 | 14.3 | |
| Private practitioner** | 7.8 | 4.7 | 8.3 | |
| Socio-demographic characteristics | ||||
| Median age (N = 1413) | 34 | 31 | 35 | |
| Mean age | 37.6 | 33.5 | 38.4 | < 0.001 |
| Education (N = 1418) | ||||
| Compulsory school | 7.3 | 6.3 | 7.5 | 0.100 |
| Vocational training | 26.7 | 34.0 | 25.6 | |
| Technical school | 21.5 | 18.3 | 22.0 | |
| University | 44.4 | 41.4 | 44.9 | |
| Nationality (N = 1413) | ||||
| Swiss | 69.6 | 64.4 | 70.5 | 0.080 |
| European | 19.7 | 22.5 | 19.2 | |
| African | 5.5 | 8.9 | 5.0 | |
| Other | 5.2 | 4.2 | 5.3 | |
| Religion (N = 1410) | ||||
| Protestant | 33.1 | 24.2 | 34.5 | 0.011 |
| Catholic | 36.9 | 36.8 | 36.9 | |
| Muslim | 5.1 | 4.7 | 5.2 | |
| Other | 3.5 | 5.3 | 3.3 | |
| Without | 21.3 | 28.9 | 20.2 | |
| Employment status (N = 1413) | ||||
| Working | 77.9 | 82.2 | 77.3 | 0.098 |
| Not working | 17.0 | 15.7 | 17.2 | |
| Pensioned | 5.1 | 2.1 | 5.6 | |
| Living situation (N = 1411) | ||||
| Living with partner | 53.3 | 20.6 | 58.3 | < 0.001 |
| Living alone with a partner elsewhere | 24.1 | 32.8 | 22.7 | |
| Living alone | 22.6 | 46.6 | 18.9 | |
| Sexual behaviour | ||||
| Age at first sexual intercourse*** (N = 1387): under 16 years old | 18.3 | 25.0 | 17.3 | 0.011 |
| Ever had same sex sexual intercourse (N = 1416) yes | 11.4 | 21.9 | 9.8 | < 0.001 |
| Had sexual concurrency in the last 12 months (N = 1276) yes | 26.6 | 69.8 | 20.4 | < 0.001 |
| Median N of partners in the last 12 months (N = 1390) Mean N of partners in the last 12 months |
1 2.9 |
4 6.4 |
1 2.4 |
< 0.001 |
| Any STI symptoms in the last 12 months**** (N = 1370) yes | 8.8 | 16.0 | 7.7 | < 0.001 |
| HIV test, information and discussion | ||||
| Ever been tested for HIV(N = 1402) yes | 65.8 | 77.5 | 63.9 | < 0.001 |
| Feel well/rather well informed about HIV/AIDS (N = 1352) yes | 92.3 | 86.4 | 93.2 | 0.001 |
| Feel well/rather well informed about other STI (N = 1392) yes | 43.2 | 33.3 | 44.7 | 0.003 |
| Wish to be asked questions about sexual history by the doctor ***** (N = 1412) Yes/rather yes | 90.9 | 92.1 | 90.8 | 0.546 |
| Ever discussed sexual issues with a doctor (N = 1413) yes | 61.4 | 64.9 | 60.8 | 0.277 |
| Ever been advised on how to avoid STI by a doctor (N = 1412) yes | 37.4 | 46.6 | 36.0 | 0.005 |
* General consultation and emergencies in the public clinic + emergencies in the outpatient private clinic
** The five GPs in the private outpatient clinic
*** No definition of the term "sexual intercourse" was given to the patient
**** "During the past 12 months, have you experienced any pain when urinating, any discharge from your penis, or ulcers on your genitals"
***** "Would you like your doctor to ask you this type of question (on your sexual history) in order to give you advice that is better suited to your circumstances"
§ Pearson's Chi-square, except for mean age and mean number of partners in the last 12 months, where the t-test was used