You have full access to this open access article. In the last few years, the frequency of sexually transmitted infections STI has increased, as has the number of people with multiple infections. The aim of our study was to describe the epidemiological characteristics of persons with repeated bacterial STI and to determine the risk factors for these episodes in persons living in Barcelona during the period β Repeated STI were defined as a diagnosis of gonorrhea, syphilis, or lymphogranuloma venereum LGV after a first episode of one of these infections.
Analysis was stratified by sex and place of birth. The factors associated with time to reinfection were determined by KaplanβMeier estimates, while the factors associated with risk of infection were determined by a Cox proportional hazards model. Of persons with a diagnosis of bacterial STI, On multivariate analysis, repeat STI were independently associated with male sex assigned at birth HR: 3. Sexual health programs should be strengthened to prevent STI and reinfection in key populations.
In the last few years, sexually transmitted infections STI have increased both in Spain and elsewhere. In Spain, records show that cases of gonorrhea have increased sixfold 12, cases , while cases of syphilis have doubled in the last 10 years.
This upward trend follows a similar pattern in the city of Barcelona, but with higher rates than the Spanish average Carrere et al. Thus, these cases are often identified through sexual contact notification and particularly through opportunistic testing and screening. However, these tests are not always easily and universally available to the population Toskin et al.
In addition, patterns of sexual behavior can be explained by social determinants such as gender, ethnicity, and immigration, which serve as axes of social inequalities in health Borrell et al. In this regard, the country of birth is understood as a structural variable associated with economic policies and the broader social culture, which helps explain the influence of inequalities in the daily lives of the population Borrell et al. Some migrants are exposed to sexual vulnerability due to their migration route, social isolation, administrative and housing insecurity, and homophobia discrimination Cordel et al.
