TY - JOUR
T1 - Age-bridging among young, urban, heterosexual males with asymptomatic Chlamydia trachomatis
AU - Jennings, Jacky M.
AU - Luo, Robert F.
AU - Lloyd, Laura V.
AU - Gaydos, Charlotte
AU - Ellen, Jonathan M.
AU - Rietmeijer, Cornelis A.
PY - 2007/4
Y1 - 2007/4
N2 - Objectives: To determine the prevalence of age-bridgers among urban males aged 14-24 years, asymptomatically infected with chlamydia and to determine factors that distinguish age-bridgers from non age-bridgers. An index was defined as an age-bridger if within 2 months, he had had at least two sexual partners who differed from him in age by ≥2 years. Methods: Infected males provided data about themselves and up to four sexual partners in the past 2 months. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was used in the analysis. Results: The prevalence of age bridging was 21% in Baltimore and 26% in Denver. In both cities, in bivariate analysis, age-bridgers and their partners engaged in significantly more risky sexual behaviours. In adjusted multivariable analysis after controlling for number of sexual partners, age bridging was associated with having a sexual partner in the past 2 months, who, at time of last sexual intercourse, was drinking. Conclusion: Age-bridgers represented major proportions of the study populations and, along with their sexual partners, were more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviours. Male age-bridgers may be key players in the transmission of sexually transmitted infections among youth linking age-disparate sexual networks.
AB - Objectives: To determine the prevalence of age-bridgers among urban males aged 14-24 years, asymptomatically infected with chlamydia and to determine factors that distinguish age-bridgers from non age-bridgers. An index was defined as an age-bridger if within 2 months, he had had at least two sexual partners who differed from him in age by ≥2 years. Methods: Infected males provided data about themselves and up to four sexual partners in the past 2 months. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was used in the analysis. Results: The prevalence of age bridging was 21% in Baltimore and 26% in Denver. In both cities, in bivariate analysis, age-bridgers and their partners engaged in significantly more risky sexual behaviours. In adjusted multivariable analysis after controlling for number of sexual partners, age bridging was associated with having a sexual partner in the past 2 months, who, at time of last sexual intercourse, was drinking. Conclusion: Age-bridgers represented major proportions of the study populations and, along with their sexual partners, were more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviours. Male age-bridgers may be key players in the transmission of sexually transmitted infections among youth linking age-disparate sexual networks.
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U2 - 10.1136/sti.2006.023556
DO - 10.1136/sti.2006.023556
M3 - Article
C2 - 17151025
AN - SCOPUS:34248226375
VL - 83
SP - 136
EP - 141
JO - Sexually Transmitted Infections
JF - Sexually Transmitted Infections
SN - 1368-4973
IS - 2
ER -