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Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Sexual Behavioral Factors of Patients with Sexually Transmitted Infections Attending a Hospital in Southern Italy

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  • Teresa Fasciana

    (Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Giuseppina Capra

    (Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Paola Di Carlo

    (Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy)

  • Cinzia Calà

    (Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy)

  • Marco Vella

    (Department of Surgical, Oncological and Stomatological Sciences, Section of Urology, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy)

  • Giuseppe Pistone

    (Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy)

  • Claudia Colomba

    (Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy)

  • Anna Giammanco

    (Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy)

Abstract

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a serious global health problem. In Italy, data describing the vulnerability to STIs of specific sexual minorities and the influence of sociodemographic and behavioral determinants are limited, as most infections are not subject to mandatory notification. This retrospective study describes the sociodemographic profile and main sexual behaviors of patients attending a hospital in Palermo (Sicily, Italy) from January 2018 to March 2019 as predictors of STI risk. Patients were divided in subgroups: men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM), men-who-have-sex-with-women (MSW), bisexual men and females. Data were obtained through an anonymous questionnaire. Patients were tested for chlamydia, syphilis, Mycoplasma genitalium infection, genital herpes and HPV infection. A total of 294 subjects with STIs (male/female ratio about 2:1) were screened. Of the total sample, 79.6% of patients were Italian. MSM accounted for 34.3%, MSW for 29.6%, bisexual men for 5.8% and females for 30.3%. A total of 44.5% of patients had a high education level, 42.5% reported irregular use of condoms, 20.7% reported having had 5–10 partners in the six months prior to the visit and 32.9% were HIV-positive. HPV infection and syphilis were the most prevalent STIs. Conclusions: The most common profile of patients attending our clinic was that of an adult, Italian man with a high level of education, poor use of condoms and a high number of partners. MSM had the highest sex-behavior-related risk for STIs. In addition, our results suggest that all STD teams need to implement counselling topics and recommendations to share with patients, as well as tips on how to approach sexual health education/counselling, thereby promoting patient-centered approaches and educational programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Teresa Fasciana & Giuseppina Capra & Paola Di Carlo & Cinzia Calà & Marco Vella & Giuseppe Pistone & Claudia Colomba & Anna Giammanco, 2021. "Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Sexual Behavioral Factors of Patients with Sexually Transmitted Infections Attending a Hospital in Southern Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-10, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:9:p:4722-:d:545697
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Giorgia Caruso & Anna Giammanco & Roberta Virruso & Teresa Fasciana, 2021. "Current and Future Trends in the Laboratory Diagnosis of Sexually Transmitted Infections," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-17, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chrysa Voyiatzaki & Maria S. Venetikou & Effie Papageorgiou & Fragiski Anthouli-Anagnostopoulou & Panagiotis Simitzis & Dimitrios I. Chaniotis & Maria Adamopoulou, 2021. "Awareness, Knowledge and Risky Behaviors of Sexually Transmitted Diseases among Young People in Greece," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-14, September.
    2. Maria Lagadinou & Katerina Spiliopoulou & Themistoklis Paraskevas & Despoina Gkentzi & Stelios Assimakopoulos & Paraskevi Katsakiori & Leonidia Leonidou & Markos Marangos, 2024. "Knowledge and Attitudes of Medical and Nursing Students in a Greek University Regarding Sexually Transmitted Diseases," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(3), pages 1-9, February.
    3. Daniel Íncera-Fernández & Francisco J. Román & Manuel Gámez-Guadix, 2022. "Risky Sexual Practices, Sexually Transmitted Infections, Motivations, and Mental Health among Heterosexual Women and Men Who Practice Sexualized Drug Use in Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-16, May.
    4. Teresa Fasciana & Giuseppina Capra & Dario Lipari & Alberto Firenze & Anna Giammanco, 2022. "Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Diagnosis and Control," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-3, April.

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