Register      Login
Sexual Health Sexual Health Society
Publishing on sexual health from the widest perspective
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Sexually transmissible infections and characteristics of men aged 60 years and over attending a public sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinic in South Australia

Carole Khaw A B D , Bin Li A C and Russell Waddell A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Clinic 275, STD Services, Infectious Diseases Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, 275 North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.

B Medicine Learning and Teaching Unit, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Adelaide, Frome Road, SA 5000, Australia.

C Discipline of Public Health, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, SA 5000, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: carole.khaw@adelaide.edu.au

Sexual Health 12(5) 460-462 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH15016
Submitted: 8 August 2014  Accepted: 29 May 2015   Published: 3 August 2015

Abstract

Background: With society ageing, sexually transmissible infections (STIs) in the older population are of interest from an economic, health-related and social burden perspective. Few studies on STIs in men older than 60 years of age exist. Methods: A retrospective study was performed looking at characteristics of, and STIs in, 29 106 men (of which 689 were older than 60 years of age), at first presentation, visiting the only South Australian public sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinic over a 13-year period. Results: Older men [men who have sex with men (MSM) and men who have sex with women (MSW)] were less likely than younger men to have been tested for HIV. Conclusion: There is a need for increased HIV testing in older men.


References

[1]  Poynten IM, Grulich AE, Templeton DJ. Sexually transmitted infections in older populations. Infect Dis 2013; 26 80–5.

[2]  Minichiello V, Rahman S, Hawkes G, Pitts M. STI epidemiology in the global older population: emerging challenges. Perspect Public Health 2012; 132 178–81.
STI epidemiology in the global older population: emerging challenges.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22729008PubMed |

[3]  Choe HS, Lee SJ, Kim CS, Cho YH. Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and the sexual behavior of elderly people presenting to health examination centres in Korea. J Infect Chemother 2011; 17 456–61.
Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and the sexual behavior of elderly people presenting to health examination centres in Korea.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21165756PubMed |

[4]  Xu F, Schillinger JA, Aubin MR, St Louis ME, Markowitz LE. Sexually transmitted diseases of elderly persons in Washington State. Sex Transm Dis 2001; 28 287–91.
Sexually transmitted diseases of elderly persons in Washington State.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD38%2FgvFygtg%3D%3D&md5=52caa87c8e6356a95167858579faf058CAS | 11357895PubMed |

[5]  Tan HH, Chan RKW, Goh CL. Sexually transmitted diseases in the elderly population in Singapore. Ann Acad Med Singapore 2002; 31 493–6.
| 1:STN:280:DC%2BD38vgvVSlug%3D%3D&md5=60fa4b32595264c32d5cdd96a305fd87CAS | 12161886PubMed |

[6]  Chen X-S, Gong X-D, Liang G-J, Zhang GC. Epidemiologic trends of sexually transmitted diseases in China. Sex Transm Dis 2000; 27 138–42.
Epidemiologic trends of sexually transmitted diseases in China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c7ovFWkuw%3D%3D&md5=68c8e2a720c573b31fad625d44647183CAS | 10726645PubMed |

[7]  Negin J, Nemser B, Cumming R, Lelerai E, Amor YB, Pronyk P. HIV attitudes, awareness and testing among older adults in Africa. AIDS Behav 2012; 16 63–8.
HIV attitudes, awareness and testing among older adults in Africa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21739287PubMed |