Social Marketing Campaign Significantly Associated With Increases in Syphilis Testing Among Gay and Bisexual Men in San Francisco

Montoya, John Harold Estrada; Kent, Charlotte K.; Rotblatt, Harlan; McCright, Jacque; Kerndt, Peter R.; Klausner, Jeffrey D.

doi:10.1097/01.olq.0000154507.58437.40

Cited by 45 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Rates of STIs such as syphilis have increased among MSM in recent years (Douglas et al 2005;Montoya et al 2005) and from 2003 to 2004 the rate of new HIV infections among this population increased by 8.0% (CDC 2006). Moreover, the topic barebacking also warrants additional research because risk factors for barebacking are understudied.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Barebacking among MSM Internet Users

Berg

2007

AIDS Behav

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This theory-driven study explored the phenomenon barebacking among Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) Internet users. Two hundred and forty men were recruited online and asked to complete a web-based survey. Forty percent of men in this geographically diverse sample reported engaging in bareback sex. Consistent with other research, findings demonstrate that compared with non-barebackers, men who engage in bareback sex are more likely to use alcohol in sexual contexts, use the Internet to meet sex partners, engage in any unsafe sex, and report higher degree of sexual sensation seeking. They are also more likely to report lower perception of safer sex social norms and lower self-efficacy for limiting HIV risk. Lack of concept discrimination between unprotected anal intercourse and barebacking suggests barebacking is a neologism that serves as a manifestation of the changing nature of sexual risk taking among some MSM. Opportunities for reducing the rate of HIV transmission among MSM are suggested.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Barebacking among MSM Internet Users

Berg

2007

AIDS Behav

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“…Because the authors do not explain the methodology employed by each jurisdiction, however, these results should be viewed with caution. Finally, two evaluation studies of San Francisco's Healthy Penis campaign (Ahrens et al, 2006;Montoya et al, 2005), the sister campaign to Stop the Sores, both found an association between campaign awareness and syphilis testing.…”

Section: Elements Of Successful Social Marketing Campaignsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Stop the Sores campaign was launched in June 2002 to coincide with the gay pride festival in West Hollywood. Healthy Penis was concurrently launched to combat rising syphilis rates in San Francisco (Montoya et al, 2005).…”

Section: Campaign Development and Implementationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stop the Sores: The Making and Evaluation of a Successful Social Marketing Campaign

Plant

Montoya

Rotblatt

et al. 2008

Health Promotion Practice

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Although syphilis is a serious disease with long-term consequences if untreated, this increase is particularly worrisome because syphilis is known to facilitate the transmission of HIV (Fleming & Wasserheit, 1999). In Los Angeles, approximately 60% of MSM diagnosed with early syphilis in 2005 were also HIV positive (STDP, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, 2006). Furthermore, a recent study suggests that acquisition of syphilis and HIV may be occurring concurrently among MSM (Taylor et al., 2005). As part of its public health response to this syphilis outbreak, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health STDP partnered with AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and five other community-based organizations (CBOs) in 2001 to support a social marketing campaign. This article outlines the development, implementation, and evaluation of Stop the Sores, a social marketing campaign designed to increase syphilis testing, knowledge, and awareness among MSM in Los Angeles County. Special attention will be given to the role of social marketing principles in the success of the campaign. The evaluation was conducted to assess the impact of the campaign, if any, on syphilis testing behavior among MSM. Specifically, MSM who were exposed to the campaign should be more likely to have had a syphilis test. Los Angeles County has experienced a rapid increase in early syphilis among men who have sex with men (MSM) in recent years, with the number of cases rising from 126 in 2000 to 809 in 2005. As part of the public health response to this outbreak, a sustained social marketing campaign was launched in 2002, with the objectives of increasing syphilis testing, knowledge, and awareness among MSM in Los Angeles. This campaign, as implemented, exemplified key principles of social marketing, including market research, audience segmentation, and branding. A cross-sectional study conducted in 2004 to evaluate the campaign found that those MSM who were aware of the campaign were nearly twice as likely to have tested for syphilis in the past 6 months as those MSM who were not aware of the campaign. Those MSM who were aware of the campaign also had more syphilis awareness and knowledge in key areas.

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“…101 A high rate of asymptomatic STDs has been found among HIV-infected patients in primary care, and routine screening is effective in detecting early asymptomatic syphilis in outpatients. [102][103][104] The CDC currently recommends that all HIV-infected patients be screened for syphilis and other STDs every 3 to 6 months. [105][106][107] In practice, we recommend that clinicians who provide care to gay men and other MSM in major cities perform a syphilis screening test with every CD4 T-cell count or HIV plasma viral load assay.…”

Section: Public Health Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Syphilis in the United States: An Update for Clinicians With an Emphasis on HIV Coinfection

Zetola

Engelman

Jensen

et al. 2007

Mayo Clinic Proceedings

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114

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Diagnosis and treatment of syphilis are challenging because of its variable clinical presentation and course and the lack of definitive tests of cure after treatment. This review of the most recent literature on the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, current diagnosis, and treatment of syphilis is focused toward clinicians who treat patients with this disease. Syphilis coinfection with human immunodeficiency virus is emphasized because it is increasingly common in the United States and affects the initial presentation, disease course, diagnosis, and treatment of syphilis. Of particular consequence is the effect of human immunodeficiency virus on the clinical diagnosis, prevalence, and course of neurosyphilis, one of the most serious consequences of syphilis infection. linicians from large metropolitan areas frequently face the challenge of diagnosing syphilis and treating patients with syphilis. In doing so, they are often faced with questions regarding interpretation of clinical findings and laboratory results and selection of appropriate therapy. Interpretation of the data available to answer these questions is often challenging given the paucity of large well-designed studies and the substantial variability that characterizes the clinical presentation of syphilis. Such a challenge is particularly found in the treatment of patients coinfected with syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). To guide clinicians in this difficult task, we discuss the most recent literature on the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of syphilis and the corresponding effects of HIV coinfection.

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Social Marketing Campaign Significantly Associated With Increases in Syphilis Testing Among Gay and Bisexual Men in San Francisco

Abstract: The Healthy Penis 2002 campaign achieved its primary objective of increasing syphilis testing, and awareness and knowledge about syphilis among gay and bisexual men in San Francisco.

Cited by 45 publications

References 9 publications

Barebacking among MSM Internet Users

Barebacking among MSM Internet Users

Stop the Sores: The Making and Evaluation of a Successful Social Marketing Campaign

Syphilis in the United States: An Update for Clinicians With an Emphasis on HIV Coinfection

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