High Prevalence of Syphilis and Syphilis/HIV Coinfection among Men Who Have Sex with Men Who Attend Meeting Places in Mexico.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by syphilis, HIV, and syphilis/HIV coinfection. ART prevents HIV transmission but does not impede syphilis transmission. Information about syphilis/HIV coinfection is scarce. We aimed to determine the prevalence of syphilis/HIV coinfection in a national sample of MSM who attend meeting places in Mexico to 1) evaluate factors associated with syphilis and 2) compare the prevalence of syphilis between the current survey and Dirección General de Epidemiología (DGE) data. We performed a laboratory diagnosis to determine syphilis and HIV among MSM. National/ regional prevalence of syphilis was calculated. HIV and coinfection prevalence were determined only for the survey. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were performed. National prevalence of syphilis, HIV, and coinfection were 15.2 %, 10.2 %, and 5.7 %, respectively. Mexico City had the highest prevalence (39.4 %). The Center region, minimal “goods”, “inhalant drugs”, “HIV infection”, “sexual intercourse”, only with men, “rewarded sex”, and “early sexual debut” were risk factors for syphilis. Regional prevalence of syphilis was higher in the survey (2013) and DGE data from 2019 than in the DGE data from 2013. Mexico needs to assess elements around not only syphilis and HIV infections but also syphilis/HIV coinfection, and preventive measures focusing on MSM are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]