Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33483434›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2021

Sexual behaviour patterns and STI risk: results of a cluster analysis among men who have sex with men in Portugal.

Karel Blondeel, Sonia Dias, Martina Furegato, Armando Seuc, Ana Gama, Ricardo Fuertes, Luís Mendão, Marleen Temmerman, Igor Toskin

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
0.4field-weighted citation impact, top 38% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 12 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 5 institutions in 6 countries.

Karel Blondeel *UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, WHO, Geneve, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0001-6900-9124
Sonia Dias *Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
Martina Furegato *Applied Diagnostic Research and Evaluation Unit (ADREU), University of London, St George's Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, London, UK martina.furegato2020@gmail.com.ORCID 0000-0003-2168-8396
Armando SeucInstituto Nacional de Higiene Epidemiología y Microbiología, Habana, Cuba.
Ana GamaGlobal Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
Ricardo FuertesGrupo de Ativistas em Tratamentos, Lisbon, Portugal.
Luís MendãoGrupo de Ativistas em Tratamentos, Lisbon, Portugal.
Marleen TemmermanFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.
Igor ToskinUNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, WHO, Geneve, Switzerland.
Ghent University · BEUniversidade Nova de Lisboa · PTInstituto Nacional de Higiene, Epidemiología y Microbiología · CUSt George's, University of London · GBWorld Health Organization · CH

Funding

World Health Organization 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesPortugal has the highest HIV incidence rate in Western Europe. The proportion assigned to sexual contact between men recently increased to more than 30% of all HIV infections. Men who have sex with men (MSM) are vulnerable to the acquisition of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), increasing the per-contact risk of HIV infection. Building on syndemic theory, the aim of this analysis was to identify patterns of current sexual behaviour in MSM, and explore their relationship with self-reported current, past STI diagnoses and HIV positive serostatus.

designA cross-sectional behavioural survey was conducted in Portugal among MSM, using a community-based participatory research approach. Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to identify patterns including behavioural and demographic factors.

resultsThe analysis resulted in six clusters. Three clusters showed higher rates of current STI diagnosis (ranging from 11.7% to 17.1%), past STI diagnosis (ranging from 25.5% to 41.5%) and HIV positive serostatus (ranging from 13.0% to 16.7%). From the three clusters scoring lower on current and past STI and HIV diagnoses, one was characterised by a high number of sexual partners (62% had more than 12 partners in the last year), a high proportion (94.6%) of frequent visits to gay venues to meet sexual partners and high alcohol use (46.1%). The other two clusters scored lower on high risk sexual behaviour.

conclusionFactors other than sexual behaviour appear to reinforce the vulnerability to STIs and HIV of some MSM in this study, suggesting a syndemic of STIs, HIV and other adverse conditions. More research is needed to better understand the drivers of the STI/HIV epidemic in Portuguese MSM, using a concept that goes beyond risk behaviour, to develop effective combination prevention interventions.

Indexed as

HIV InfectionsSexual and Gender MinoritiesSexually Transmitted DiseasesCluster AnalysisCross-Sectional StudiesEuropeHomosexuality, MaleHumansMalePortugalSexual BehaviorSexual PartnersHIV & AIDSMSMsexual healthSTIsyndemic

Identifiers

PMID33483434
PMCPMC7825267
OpenAlexW3121751602

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.