Risk-taking and health-seeking behavior in men with a history of urethritis: is there a learning curve?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Studies addressing how past experience with sexually transmitted diseases (STD) influence health-seeking behaviors among at-risk men are few. GOAL: The goal of this study was to determine whether health-seeking behaviors among men diagnosed with urethritis differ based on whether they report prior urethritis. STUDY DESIGN: Male STD clinic attendees answered a questionnaire regarding their demographic, sexual, and health-seeking characteristics. The men were stratified based on whether they reported prior urethritis. RESULTS: Of 466 men, 297 reported prior urethritis. Symptomatic men diagnosed with urethritis who reported prior urethritis did not recognize their symptoms as a possible STD earlier than those reporting no urethritis history; there was also no difference between the groups in their interval to presenting for care once symptoms were recognized as a possible STD. Furthermore, men with prior urethritis were as likely to engage in sex acts once they recognized their symptoms as a possible STD manifestation. CONCLUSION: Compared with men without prior urethritis, men with urethritis symptoms who reported prior urethritis did not recognize symptoms earlier, alter health-seeking behavior, or curtail sexual activity.

Comparison of STD burden and risk among men with and without regular doctors attending a southern urban STD clinic.

BACKGROUND: Studies addressing health-seeking behaviors among men at risk for STD are few; this study examines how having a regular doctor might influence risk-taking or STD prevalence. GOAL: The goal was to examine demographic, sexual, and health-seeking characteristics of male STD clinic attendees. STUDY DESIGN: Randomly selected men attending an STD clinic answered a questionnaire regarding the aforementioned characteristics. The men were stratified according to whether they reported having a regular doctor. RESULTS: Of 467 men, 32% reported a regular doctor. These men were more likely to be older, to be better educated, and to state they would seek care for a medical problem at a doctor's office. The two groups did not differ in STD history or prostitute exposure; men without doctors were more likely to have urethritis and STD, although the men with doctors had substantial STD rates. CONCLUSION: Public health clinics remain an important safety net for the management of STD, even for men who report a regular doctor.