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Sex Transm Infect doi:10.1136/sti.2006.023556

Age-bridging among young, urban, heterosexual males with asymptomatic Chlamydia trachomatis

  1. Jacky M Jennings (jjenning{at}jhsph.edu)
  1. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, United States
    1. Robert F Luo (rluo1979{at}gmail.com)
    1. Harvard Medical School, United States
      1. Laura V Lloyd
      1. Denver Public Health Department, United States
        1. Charlotte Gaydos (cgaydos{at}jhmi.edu)
        1. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, United States
          1. J M Ellen (jellen{at}jhmi.edu)
          1. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, United States
            1. Cornelis A Rietmeijer (cornelis.rietmeijer{at}dhha.org)
            1. University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, United States
              • Published Online First 6 December 2006

              Abstract

              Objectives: To determine the prevalence of age- bridgers among urban, males 14-24 years of age, asymptomatically infected with chlamydia and to determine factors which distinguish age-bridgers vs. non age-bridgers. An index was defined as an age-bridger if within two months the index had at least two sex partners where the sex partners differed in age by two or more years.

              Methods: Infected males provided data about themselves and up to four sex partners in the past two 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 behaviors and in adjusted multivariable analysis after controlling for number of sex partners, age bridging was associated with having a sex partner in the past two months that at last sex was drinking.

              Conclusion: Age-bridgers represented significant proportions of the study populations and along with their sex partners were more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors. Male age-bridgers may be key players in STI transmission among youth linking age disparate sexual networks.

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