Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Major/Program

Public Health

First Advisor's Name

Gladys Ibanez

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee chair

Second Advisor's Name

Kristopher Fennie

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee member

Third Advisor's Name

Changwon Yoo

Third Advisor's Committee Title

Committee member

Fourth Advisor's Name

Dionne Stephens

Fourth Advisor's Committee Title

Committee member

Fifth Advisor's Name

Robert Cook

Fifth Advisor's Committee Title

Committee member

Keywords

HIV/AIDS, Venue selection, Sexual Behaviors, Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Date of Defense

11-4-2019

Abstract

The incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are on the rise, nationwide (World Health Organization, 2015). In Florida, the incidence of bacterial STDs has increased from 425.3 per 100,000 persons per year in 2006 to 684.7 per 100,000 persons per year in 2017 (Florida Charts, 2018). This rise in STDs has gone hand-in-hand with the recent advancement of technology, beginning with at-home internet in the early 1990s to the introduction of social networking smartphone applications (SNSA) on mobile Smartphones in the late 2000s (Grov et al., 2011; Klausner et al., 2011; Winetrobe et al., 2014). In fact, some STDs, such as syphilis, are more common among persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs)— as one-fourth of HIV-infected patients present with syphilis at the time of HIV diagnosis (Zetola et al., 2007).

There is limited research concerning how persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) meet sexual partners, specifically by venue type (technology-based vs. in-person), and how sociodemographic factors of PLWHA and disclosure of HIV status vary by venue type. The purpose of this dissertation was to examine factors associated with reporting a history of sexually transmitted disease (STD) among Florida Cohort Study participants living with HIV by examining their choice of venue to meet new sexual partners, demographics, and risky sexual behaviors.

The purpose of this dissertation was to examine factors influencing the incidence of sexually transmitted disease (STD) among Florida Cohort Study participants living with HIV by examining their choice of venue to meet new sexual partners, demographics, and risky sexual behaviors. Venue-type was determined based on the method in which participants reported meeting new sexual partners in the prior 12 months. Self-reported lifetime history of sexually transmitted disease and risky sexual behaviors by reported venue-type used to meet sexual partners (“Technology” vs. “Non-Technology”) were examined using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. Factors influencing the incidence of sexually transmitted disease (STD) among Florida Cohort Study were examined utilizing Bayesian network (BN) analysis.

Overall, statistically significant differences were found by venue type and demographics of Florida Cohort Study participants, whether individuals reported a history of sexually transmitted diseases, and reported risky sexual behaviors. Technology-based venues were more commonly associated with younger users and LGBTQ participants. In-person based venues were associated with older participants over 50 years of age. Individuals reporting more than five sexual partners in the prior 12 months were more likely to report a history of syphilis. Lastly, Bayesian networks can be used predict associations between the type of location where an individual meets sexual partners, risky sexual behaviors, and lifetime history of sexually transmitted diseases.

Identifier

FIDC008861

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Included in

Epidemiology Commons

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