Socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics of patients with syphilis/HIV co-infection

Introduction. According to the outpatient visit data at the Moscow Scientific and Practical Center of Dermatovenereology and Cosmetology (MSPCDC) and AIDS center in Moscow, the number of patients with syphilis/HIV co-infection has increased significantly (4.2—4.8 times) from 2012 to 2022. This indicates the need to analyze the social and behavioral characteristics of this population of patients with a combination of two severe infections. Objective. To study the socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics of patients with syphilis/HIV co-infection in comparison with similar characteristics of patients with syphilis and patients with HIV infection (comparison groups 1 and 2). Results. The comparison has shown that patients with syphilis/HIV co-infection had a higher level of education and fuller employment (differences are statistically significant). Sexual orientation of co-infected persons was mostly homosexual (63.3%), bisexual in 16.5% of cases. The proportion of co-infected patients who had sexual intercourses with accidental partners was significantly higher than similar indicators in the comparison groups. At the same time, patients with syphilis/HIV co-infection were significantly less likely to use individual protection means against STIs than those interviewed in the comparison groups. Conclusion. The social and behavioral characteristics of patients with syphilis/HIV co-infection should be considered by the attending physicians when clarifying the past medical history and examining sexual and domestic contacts of the patient.