Current US syphilis screening focuses on men who have sex with men (MSM), because of the increased risk of infection in their sexual networks, and on pregnant people, because of complications associated with congenital syphilis. However, screening for men who have sex with women (MSW) who are at increased risk of syphilis is also recommended. Factors associated with syphilis testing and positivity were assessed among young, Black MSW.
Methods
Data from the Check It study—a seek, test, and treat study for chlamydia in New Orleans, LA, among Black MSW aged 15 to 26 years—were used. Survey data were used to elicit self-reported syphilis testing, self-reported testing results, and sociodemographic and behavioral factors associated with these 2 outcomes.
Results
Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, all men in the study were recommended for syphilis screening because of their age, race, and geographic location. Of the 1458 men included, 272 (18.7%) reported ever having been syphilis tested, 267 men reported their results, and 23 (8.6%) reported testing positive. In logistic regression, older age (odds ratio [OR], 1.21 per year older; P