Factors associated with GUM clinic attendance and STI diagnosis among Central and East European migrants in London

Abstract

International audience ; There has been a large influx of Central and East European (CEE) migrants to the UK following the expansion of the European Union. This paper examines the factors associated with GUM clinic attendance and STI diagnosis among CEE migrants in London. We conducted a survey of sexual behaviour among CEE migrants attending two central London GUM clinics (n=299) and community venues in London (n=2276). Routinely-collected clinic data were also analysed. CEE migrants made up 2.9% of male and 7.0% of female attendees at the clinics. Half of the women attending sessions for female sex workers were from CEE countries and paying for sex was widely reported by men. Women were more likely than men to have attended a GUM clinic in the UK (7.6% vs 4.5%, p=0.002). GUM survey respondents were more likely than community survey respondents to report one or more new sexual partners in the past year (women: 67.9% vs 28.3%, p<0.001; men: 75.6% vs 45.1%, p<0.001) and homosexual partnership(s) in the past five years (men: 54.3% vs 1.8%, p<0.001); but were less likely to report assortative heterosexual mixing (women: 25.9% vs 74.2%, p<0.001; men: 56.5% vs 76.3%, p<0.001). CEE patients make up a notable proportion of patients attending two central London GUM clinics. Higher numbers of sexual partners, homosexual partnerships and sexual mixing with people from outside the country of origin are associated with GUM clinic attendance. Heterosexual CEE men report behaviours associated with HIV/STI acquisition but appear to be under-utilizing GUM services.