Background In 2007, 201 men who have sex with men were recruited at social venues and through peer referral in five urban areas of Jamaica for an exploratory study of the prevalence of sexually transmitted infection in the population and identification of risk factors.

Objective To describe the association between age and current infection with HIV, syphilis, and chlamydia and explore reasons for the differences.

Methods MSM were invited to participate in a survey and testing. Urine and blood samples were collected at the time of the interview and later tested for evidence of HIV, syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia. Men were given options about where to obtain results.

Results Of the three infections, HIV had the strongest positive association with age; syphilis a weaker positive association; and chlamydia a weak negative association. Risk factors varied somewhat by age and infection see Abstract P1-S2.63 Figure 1. For example, not using a condom in the past 4 weeks was associated with chlamydia infection among MSM age 15−19 but not for older MSM. Having a main sexual partner was associated with HIV infection for MSM age 15−19 but not for older MSM.

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Abstract P1-S2.63 Figure 1

Conclusion Strategies for prevention of transmission need to be aware of differences in risk by age and by infection.