142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Independent and synergistic effects of low education and poverty on sexually transmitted infection in Haiti

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014 : 2:30 PM - 2:42 PM

Joy Scheidell, MPH , Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Madsen Beau De Rochars, MD, MPH , Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Marie Séraphin, MPH , Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Joseph Célestin, MD , Centre de Santé Gressier, Gressier, Haiti
Marcia Hobbs, PhD , School of Medicine, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Deepthi Varma, PhD, MSW , Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Glenn Morris Jr., MD, MPH , Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Maria Khan, PhD, MPH , Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Audio (mp3) recording Recorded Presentation (mp4)
Background: The independent versus synergistic effects of low education and poverty on sexually transmitted infection (STI) risk in Haiti are not well described.

Methods: Women from an antenatal clinic in Gressier, Haiti, from August-October 2013, completed a risk behavior interview and were tested for Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis (N=200).  Logistic regression was used to estimate associations between socioeconomic factors, sexual behaviors, and STI.

Results: The mean age was 27.9 years. Approximately 29% had an STI, 28% had low education status (less than 12 years schooling), and 40% experienced crowding (more than 2 people sleeping in same room). Controlling for age and crowding, low education appeared to be associated with STI (AOR= 2.24, 95% CI: 0.99, 5.07) and early risk-taking indicators, including being < 18 years old at first sex (AOR= 1.96, 95% CI: 1.01, 3.82) and no condom use at first sex (AOR= 5.98, 95% CI: 1.62, 21.50). Controlling for age and low education, crowding was associated with STI (AOR= 2.32, 95% CI: 1.16, 4.66) and currently having a non-monogamous main partner (AOR= 2.04, 95% CI: 1.01, 4.11). In age-adjusted models, low education or crowding was associated with 4.22 (95% CI: 1.35, 13.15) times the odds of STI, and exposure to both was associated with 6.98 (95% CI: 2.13, 22.94) times the odds.

Conclusion: Low education and poverty seemingly influence STI independently, while also working synergistically. Improving women’s education may be important in improving risk awareness thereby reducing risky sexual behaviors and preventing a trajectory of risk beginning in adolescence/early adulthood.

Learning Areas:

Epidemiology

Learning Objectives:
Describe the effects of low education and poverty on sexual risk behaviors and sexually transmitted infection in a sample of Haitian women.

Keyword(s): STDs/STI, Sexual Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am doctoral student in epidemiology and my research focuses on STI and sexually risk behaviors. I have been involved in all stages of the present study from creation of study materials to data management and analysis.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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