Ph.D. - Epidemiology
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ItemComparison of Behavioral and Sexual Networking Risks among Patients with Syphilis or Gonorrhea: The Social and Sexual (SSN) Study, Baltimore([Honolulu] : [University of Hawaii at Manoa], [December 2016], 2016-12)Syphilis is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum and is associated with significant complications if left untreated besides also facilitating the transmission and acquisition of ‘Human Immunodeficiency Virus’ (HIV) infection. Gonorrhea (infection due to Neisseria gonorrhoeae) is the second most commonly reported sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the United States. The purpose of this dissertation is to develop an epidemiologic profile among patients with syphiliis and gonorrhea from STD clinics in Baltimore. Networking risks and behavioral factors associated with sexual risk taking were investigated. The first of three studies sought to determine the associations between the presence of syphilis vs. gonorrhea with sexual characteristics and associations between the presence of syphilis vs. gonorrhea with peer influences on condom use before any sexual intercourse. The second study attempted to determine the associations between the network characteristics of the social contacts with the presence of syphilis vs. gonorrhea, describe differences in asscociations between sexual behaviors with presence of syphilis vs. gonorrhea by different types of networks (more sexual networks than non-sexual networks and vice versa) and determine the associations between some sexual behaviors with presence of syphilis vs. gonorrhea among men having sex with men (MSM) from this study. Finally, study three aimed to determine if depression and drug abuse are co-morbid with the presence of syphilis vs. gonorrhea among patients with syphilis or gonorrhea, describe differences in the associations of drug abuse with syphilis vs. gonorrhea between people with different types of networks and to determine if sexual abuse is associated with depression among these patients. Findings from all three studies covered in this dissertation confirm that there are behavioral factors with sexual risk and networking risks among patients with syphilis or gonorrhea. They also provided thorough information on their network characteristics and associated risk factors in different types of social networks (individuals named as part of sexual or non-sexual network). All three studies provided suggestions for future research in order to increase understanding of sexual and networking risks among patients with STDs.