Association of hepatitis B virus infection with other sexually transmittedinfections in homosexual men

Objectives. This study determined the prevalence:and factors associated wit h hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among men who have sex with men. Methods. At the baseline visit of an HIV study among men who have sex with men, we asked about HBV vaccination status and tested-for HBV markers. Results. Of 625 subjects, 48% had received at least 1 dose of HBV vaccine. Of 328 unvaccinated men, 41% had 1 or more HBV markers. HBV prevalence incr eased markedly with age and was association with many sexual and drug relat ed behaviors. In a multivariate model, 7 variables were independently assoc iated with HBV infection. ulcerative sexually transmitted diseases (odds ra tio [OR]= 10.1; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.6. 54); injection drug use (OR = 5.2; 95% CI = 1.2, 26); gonorrhea or chlamydia (OR = 4.0; 95% CI = 1 .9, 8.9); sexual partner with HIV/AIDS (OR = 3.6 95% CI = 1.8, 7.1); 50 or more Casual partners (OR = 3.4; 95% CI = 1.6, 7.1); received money for sex (OR = 3.0; 95% CII:1.2, 7.8); and 20 or more regular partners (OR = 2.5; 95 % CI = 1.1, 6.1). Conclusions. In Montreal, men who have sex with men are at risk for HBV inf ection, but a substantial proportion: remain unvaccinated; new strategies a re required to improve coverage; Men who have sex with men and who have a s exually transmitted infection, especially a genito-ulcerative infection, ap pear to be at particularly high risk for-HBV infection.