Emerging Scholars Interdisciplinary Network
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- 5th Annual International Conference on Sociology
- Call for Papers and Participation, Deadline: October 11, 2010
- The Forgotten Epidemic HIV/AIDS: Crisis in Black America
- Deadline for Abstract Submission: September 8, 2010
- 2011 American Men's Studies Association Conference: Men, Masculi
- Deadline for Submissions: October 31, 2010
ESIN News
- Professional Opportunity
- Rutgers University School of Social Work, Two Tenure-Track Faculty Positions
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- University of North Dakota, One-year Visiting Assistant Professor, Counseling Psychology
- ESIN Congratulates
- Otima Doyle, PhD, MSW
- Professional Opportunity
- University of Michigan National Center for Institutional Diversity, Postdoctoral Program
- Funding Opportunity
- Health Promotion Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Males (R01)
- Social Work Resource
- The Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research presents their new website
Scientific Update
- Black patients, women miss out on strongest medications for...
- Article highlighting research of Carmen Green
- A Meta-Study of Black Male Mental Health and Well-Being
- D.C. Watkins, R.L. Walker, and D.M. Griffith
Scientific News
...Testing of Highly Sexually Active Gay Men is Required...
R.T. Gray, et. al
2010-04-27 09:19:03
Frequent Testing of Highly Sexually Active Gay Men is Required to Control Syphilis
Richard T. Gray, PHD; Alexander Hoare, BSc; Garrett P. Prestage, PHD; Basil Donovan, MD; John M. Kaldor, PHD; David P. Wilson, PHD
Sexually Transmitted Diseases:
May 2010 - Volume 37 - Issue 5 - pp 298-305
doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0b013e3181ca3c0a
http://journals.lww.com/stdjournal/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=2010&issue=05000&article=00005&type=abstract
Background: The incidence of syphilis infections has been substantially increasing in gay men in the developed world.
Methods: We developed an individual-based mathematical model describing syphilis transmission within a gay male population: we used the model to simulate the expected relative impact of numerous screening and treatment interventions, targeting different at-risk groups with various coverage and frequency rates and follow-up schedules.
Results: The model predicts that increasing the proportion of gay men tested each year would have a relatively modest impact on syphilis incidence. However, increasing the frequency of testing can have a large impact, with the prevalence of syphilis reduced substantially if individuals are tested every 3 months. Targeting frequent screening at gay men who have large numbers of partners or who engage in group sex is a more efficient way of reducing syphilis epidemics. Contact tracing the regular partners of infected individuals is the most efficient intervention and can have a significant epidemiological impact with relatively high coverage rates.
Conclusions: Increasing the frequency of testing and treatment are required to mitigate syphilis epidemics. Notifying and testing partners of infected men should occur where possible but the high rates required to reverse epidemic trends are likely to be infeasible. Contact tracing should be a secondary priority that is coupled with increases in the frequency of testing in the population. Encouraging testing among men not previously tested for syphilis is also recommended.
Richard T. Gray, PHD; Alexander Hoare, BSc; Garrett P. Prestage, PHD; Basil Donovan, MD; John M. Kaldor, PHD; David P. Wilson, PHD
Sexually Transmitted Diseases:
May 2010 - Volume 37 - Issue 5 - pp 298-305
doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0b013e3181ca3c0a
http://journals.lww.com/stdjournal/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=2010&issue=05000&article=00005&type=abstract
Background: The incidence of syphilis infections has been substantially increasing in gay men in the developed world.
Methods: We developed an individual-based mathematical model describing syphilis transmission within a gay male population: we used the model to simulate the expected relative impact of numerous screening and treatment interventions, targeting different at-risk groups with various coverage and frequency rates and follow-up schedules.
Results: The model predicts that increasing the proportion of gay men tested each year would have a relatively modest impact on syphilis incidence. However, increasing the frequency of testing can have a large impact, with the prevalence of syphilis reduced substantially if individuals are tested every 3 months. Targeting frequent screening at gay men who have large numbers of partners or who engage in group sex is a more efficient way of reducing syphilis epidemics. Contact tracing the regular partners of infected individuals is the most efficient intervention and can have a significant epidemiological impact with relatively high coverage rates.
Conclusions: Increasing the frequency of testing and treatment are required to mitigate syphilis epidemics. Notifying and testing partners of infected men should occur where possible but the high rates required to reverse epidemic trends are likely to be infeasible. Contact tracing should be a secondary priority that is coupled with increases in the frequency of testing in the population. Encouraging testing among men not previously tested for syphilis is also recommended.