P1-S1.06 Rectal health: prevalence of rectal STI s and associations with clinical signs and self-reported symptoms

Background Predictors of rectal health are needed for public health programs and planning rectal microbicide clinical trials. Methods From October 2006 to December 2008, 896 men and women in Los Angeles and Baltimore in a rectal health and behaviours study (UCLA IPCP U19 0606414) completed interviews and rectal sexually transmitted infections (STIs) testing including Gonorrhoea (GC), Chlamydia (CT) and high-risk human papilloma-virus (HR-HPV). Rectal signs detected by High Resolution Anoscopy (HRA) and self-reports of symptoms in the past month were analysed for associations with STIs (GC (n=7), CT (n=15) and HR-HPV (n=178)), demographics and receptive anal intercourse (RAI) in the past month. Those with active haemorrhoids were excluded (n=77) from analyses of STI predictors. Results SIGNS-Men reporting RAI (n=234) had a higher prevalence of swelling seen by HRA than men not reporting RAI (6.4% vs 1.9%; p value 0.02). Prevalence of erythema or haemorrhoids was lower among men reporting RAI (2.2% vs 6.8%; p value=0.02 and 18.3% vs 30.8%; p value