Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36303661›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in reproductive health2022

Sexually Transmitted Infections and Associated Risk Factors Among Male Clients of Sex Workers: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Project in Antwerp, Belgium.

Tom Platteau, Irith De Baetselier, Heleen Van Mieghem, Achilleas Tsoumanis, Kris Keersmaekers, Lieselot Ooms, Vicky Cuylaerts, Eric Florence

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in reproductive health, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
1.6field-weighted citation impact, top 14% 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

2 citing papers in PubMed, 4 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
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

8 authors at 1 institution in 2 countries.

Tom PlatteauDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
Irith De BaetselierDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
Heleen Van MieghemViolett, Antwerp, Belgium.
Achilleas TsoumanisDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
Kris KeersmaekersViolett, Antwerp, Belgium.
Lieselot OomsDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
Vicky CuylaertsDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
Eric FlorenceDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde · BE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is increasing in Belgium in recent years. Clients of sex workers form a key population for acquisition of STIs, due to their sexual relations, with or without a condom, with sex workers. STI testing uptake is low among clients of sex workers, and prevalence of STIs remains to be investigated in Belgium. Therefore, we offered STI-testing to clients of sex workers during outreach sessions in Antwerp. Methods: Time location sampling (TLS) was used to improve representativeness of the sample during ten test sessions in the red light district, Antwerp in May and September 2019 by using a passive approach. Individuals that were interested to get tested for STIs could enter the study. Participants completed an online survey and samples for STI testing were collected. Testing included HIV, syphilis, Results: In total, 154 male clients of sex workers with a median age of 38 participated. A total of eight Ct and one Ng infections were detected. TLS analysis revealed a Ct/Ng prevalence of 8.2%. No new HIV nor syphilis infections were detected. Using univariate analysis, testing positive for STI was associated with younger age and anorectal sex with a sex worker. Using multivariate analysis, an STI-positive test result was associated with being younger, having non-Belgian nationality, and being in a relationship. Conclusion: Our study found a substantial prevalence of Ct/Ng which highlights the need for sensitization and facilitation of STI testing among clients of sex workers. It is difficult to compare results due to the lack of reference material. Moreover, our relatively small convenience sample limits generalizability of results. However, phone counseling (for positive test results) was accepted, linkage to care was provided, and partner notification was facilitated.

Indexed as

clients of sex workerscommunicable diseasesdiagnostic screening programsepidemiologyHIVsexually transmitted diseases (STDs)sexually transmitted infection (STI)sex work

Identifiers

PMID36303661
PMCPMC9580811
OpenAlexW4221011095

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

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.