Characteristics of the frequently and infrequently tested groups and the determinants of test frequency for MSM who visited an STI clinic in the eastern part of the Netherlands, 2008–2013
| Infrequently tested (n=953) n (%) | Frequently tested (n=658) n (%) | Frequently versus infrequently tested | ||
| Univariable analyses OR (95% CI) | Multivariable analysis OR (95% CI) | |||
| Median number of consultations (IQR) | 4 (3–5) | 6 (4–9) | ||
| Age (in years at baseline) | ||||
| <26 | 242 (25.4) | 140 (21.3) | Ref | Ref |
| ≥26 | 711 (74.6) | 518 (78.7) | 1.3 (1.0 to 1.6) | 0.9 (0.7 to 1.2) |
| Ethnicity (baseline) | ||||
| Dutch | 857 (89.9) | 584 (88.8) | Ref | NT |
| Non-Western | 62 (6.5) | 47 (7.1) | 1.1 (0.8 to 1.6) | |
| Other Western | 34 (3.6) | 27 (4.1) | 1.2 (0.7 to 2.0) | |
| Socioeconomic status (baseline) | ||||
| Low | 281 (29.5) | 183 (27.8) | 1.0 (0.7 to 1.2) | NT |
| Intermediate | 349 (36.6) | 256 (38.9) | 1.1 (0.9 to 1.4) | |
| High | 300 (31.5) | 203 (30.9) | Ref | |
| Missing | 23 (2.4) | 16 (2.4) | ||
| Mean number of partners | ||||
| <2 | 122 (12.9) | 67 (10.3) | Ref | Ref |
| 2–5 | 406 (43.0) | 227 (35.0) | 1.0 (0.7 to 1.4) | 1.0 (0.7 to 1.5) |
| ≥5 | 416 (44.1) | 354 (54.6) | 1.6 (1.1 to 2.2) | 1.2 (0.8 to 1.8) |
| Missing | 9 (0.0) | 10 (0.0) | ||
| Notified by a partner | ||||
| Never | 511 (53.6) | 267 (40.6) | Ref | Ref |
| Ever | 442 (46.4) | 391 (59.4) | 1.7 (1.4 to 2.1) | 1.1 (0.9 to 1.4) |
| Diagnosed with an STI | ||||
| Never | 505 (53.0) | 233 (35.4) | Ref | Ref |
| Ever | 448 (47.0) | 425 (64.6) | 2.1 (1.7 to 2.6) | 1.4 (1.1 to 1.7) |
| STI-related symptoms | ||||
| Never | 454 (47.6) | 273 (41.5) | Ref | Ref |
| Ever | 499 (52.4) | 385 (58.5) | 1.3 (1.1 to 1.6) | 0.8 (0.6 to 1.0) |
| Sexual preference | ||||
| Sex with men and women | 232 (24.3) | 212 (32.2) | Ref | Ref |
| Sex with men only | 714 (74.9) | 442 (67.2) | 0.7 (0.5 to 0.8) | 0.6 (0.5 to 0.8) |
| Unknown | 7 (0.7) | 4 (0.6) | ||
| Diagnosed with HIV | ||||
| Never | 860 (90.2) | 568 (86.3) | Ref | Ref |
| Ever | 93 (9.8) | 90 (13.7) | 1.5 (1.1 to 2.0) | 0.8 (0.5 to 1.2) |
Values in bold were significant (p<0.05); due to rounding into 1 decimal, 1.0 is not always significant.
Regression analysis corrected for the number of consultations.
MSM, men who have sex with men; NT, not tested in multivariable model, since p>0.20 in univariate analysis; ref, reference; STI, sexually transmitted infection.