ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Public Health
Sec. Infectious Diseases: Epidemiology and Prevention
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1465799
Prevalence and Factors Associated with Syphilis Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Brazil
Provisionally accepted
Kenio Costa Lima1
José Adailton Silva1
Marquiony M. dos Santos2
Paulo Roberto Queiroz1*
Ana Karla Bezerra Lopes1
André Carlos Nogueira Bezerra1Thalia Giesta Costa1
Brunno Giordano da Silva Aranha Filho1- 1Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
- 2Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte - UERN. Departamento de Enfermagem, Caicó, RN, Brasil., Caicó, Brazil
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Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the prevalence of syphilis and assess the factors associated with its diagnosis throughout life. Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted from January to April 2022 with 812 MSM users of dating apps in Brazil. Sociodemographic, behavioral, and sexual aspects, health issues, and the use of dating apps variables were analyzed. Results: Multivariate logistic regression estimated the predictors of syphilis at a 95% confidence interval. The prevalence of syphilis diagnoses was 34.23% (95% CI = 30.94 -37.46), and the factors associated with the diagnosis throughout life were age ≥ 30 years (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 1.49; adjusted 95% confidence interval [a95%CI] = 1.15 -1.92), more than three sexual relations with Cis men (aPR = 1.40; a95%CI = 1.03 -1.90), sex simultaneously with two people or more during social distancing (aPR = 1.31; a95%CI = 1.00 -1.73), use of a licit (or illicit) substance in the last three months (aPR = 1.35; a95%CI = 1.05 -1.74), using condom less than half of the time in anal sex in the last three months (aPR = 1.42, a95%CI = 1.07 -1.89), being a PrEP user (aPR = 1.10; a95%CI = 0.81 -1.51) and having used the Grindr® app in the last three months (aPR = 1.38; a95%CI = 1.04 -1.83) Conclusion: The prevalence of syphilis among MSM users of dating apps is at worrying levels.Thus, frequent testing (less than three months for MSM using PrEP and semi-annual for everyone, regardless of the risk), access to DoxiPEP for this population, consistent use of condoms, and the use of apps as a strategic intervention and educommunication platforms are essential to prevent the spread of syphilis.
Keywords: MSM, Mobile apps, Syphilis, STIs, Sexual Behavior
Received: 16 Jul 2024; Accepted: 31 Mar 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Lima, Silva, dos Santos, Roberto Queiroz, Lopes, Bezerra, Costa and Aranha Filho. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Paulo Roberto Queiroz, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, 84030-900, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
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