Demographics, sexual behaviour and STD/HIV prevalence in two groups of men who have sex with men, in Rotterdam, The Netherlands

This study was performed to investigate whether men who have sex with men visiting the sexually transmitted diseases clinic, and those participating in a gay cohort were different with regard to demographic characteristics, sexual behaviour and sexually transmitted diseases (STD)/human immunodeficiency (HIV) virus prevalence. Data from men who have sex with men presenting at the sexually transmitted diseases clinic (group I; n = 318) were compared with data from men participating in a cohort (group II; n = 286). All males underwent a routine venereological examination. Men in group II were more often older (p < 0.0005), of Dutch descent (p < 0.0005) and had more sex partners (p < 0.0005). New cases of HIV infection were detected far more often in group I (p = 0.04). Also, urethral gonococcal infection was significantly more prevalent in group I (p = 0.003). Multivariate analyses showed that males presenting at the STD clinic (group I) were at higher risk for urethral gonorrhoea. The higher prevalence of HIV infection in group I was associated with a higher prevalence of recent STD, more concomitant urethral gonorrhoea infections at the time of visit, over 10 sex partners in the previous 6 months, and non-Dutch descent.