Table 1.
Demographic and behavioural characteristics of MSM early syphilis cases reporting methamphetamine (Meth) use (n=167) versus MSM early syphilis cases reporting no methamphetamine use, 2001–04
| Variable | Meth use (n=167)* No. (%) |
Prevalence No. (%) |
Prevalence ratio PR (95% CI) |
P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | ||||
| <20 | 3 (2) | 26 (12) | 1.0 (0.3–3.2) | 1.0 |
| 20–29† | 43 (26) | 375 (11) | 1.0 (Ref) | NA |
| 30–39 | 80 (48) | 850 (10) | 0.9 (0.8–1.1) | 0.3 |
| 40–49 | 35 (21) | 516 (7) | 0.8 (0.6–1.0) | 0.01 |
| 50+ | 6 (4) | 137 (4) | 0.4 (0.2–0.9) | 0.02 |
| Race/ethnicity‡ | ||||
| White† | 86 (52) | 862 (10) | 1.0 (Ref) | NA |
| Black | 9 (5) | 200 (5) | 0.5 (0.3–0.9) | 0.02 |
| Hispanic | 62 (37) | 685 (9) | 1.0 (0.8–1.2) | 0.7 |
| Other/Mixed | 10 (6) | 122 (8) | 0.9 (0.5–1.6) | 0.6 |
| Syphilis stage | ||||
| Primary/secondary | 95 (57) | 1,116 (9) | 1.0 (0.8–1.1) | 0.6 |
| Early latent† | 72 (43) | 788 (9) | 1.0 (Ref) | NA |
| HIV seropositive§ | 106 (64) | 1,113 (10) | 1.0 (0.9–1.1) | 1.0 |
| Behavioural risk factors | ||||
| Multiple sex partners** | 40 (42) | 179 (22) | 1.7 (1.3–2.3) | 0.003 |
| Anal insertive sex | 134 (84) | 1,252 (11) | 1.0 (1.0–1.1) | 0.6 |
| Anal receptive sex | 139 (86) | 1,213 (12) | 1.1 (1.0–1.1) | 0.07 |
| Oral sex | 156 (98) | 1,571 (11) | 1.0 (1.0–1.1) | 0.2 |
| Anonymous partner†† | 138 (86) | 1,195 (12) | 1.1 (1.03–1.2) | 0.01 |
| Condom non-use | 124 (81) | 877 (14) | 1.3 (1.2–1.4) | < 0.001 |
| Incarceration‡‡ | 25 (17) | 66 (38) | 5.2 (3.2–8.2) | < 0.001 |
| Venues for meeting sex partners§§ | ||||
| Bathhouses/sex clubs | 59 (35) | 350 (17) | 1.6 (1.3–2.0) | < 0.001 |
| Bars and clubs | 59 (38) | 638 (9) | 0.8 (0.7–1.0) | 0.05 |
| Internet | 55 (38) | 338 (55) | 1.6 (1.2–2.0) | 0.004 |
| Motels | 6 (4) | 33 (18) | 1.8 (0.8–4.3) | 0.2 |
| Streets | 23 (16) | 95 (24) | 2.6 (1.7–4.0) | < 0.001 |
| Parks | 6 (4) | 72 (8) | 0.7 (0.3–1.7) | 0.5 |
| Dancehalls | 1 (0.7) | 12 (8) | 0.7 (0.1–5.7) | 0.8 |
Totals and percentages by variable may vary because of missing values for behavioural risk factors and venues for meeting sex partners
Reference group
White versus non-White used for odds ratio calculation
HIV status provided by self-report during field interview and is not lab confirmed
Defined as greater than one sex partner during the interview period
Anonymous partner is defined as a sexual partner for whom the syphilis case was unable to provide any type of identifying or locating information
Incarceration in the previous year
Had sex or met sex partners at venue during the period when syphilis infection likely occurred (critical period)