Dataset Information

Exploring spatially varying demographic associations with gonorrhea incidence in Baltimore, Maryland, 2002-2005.

ABSTRACT: The ability to establish spatial links between gonorrhea risk and demographic features is an important step in disease awareness and more effective prevention techniques. Past spatial analyses focused on local variations in risk, but not on spatial variations in associations with demographics. We collected data from the Baltimore City Health Department from 2002 to 2005 and evaluated demographic features known to be associated with gonorrhea risk in Baltimore, by allowing spatial variation in associations using Poisson geographically weighted regression (PGWR). The PGWR maps revealed variations in local relationships between race, education, and poverty with gonorrhea risk which were not captured previously. We determined that the PGWR model provided a significantly better fit to the data and yields a more nuanced interpretation of "core areas" of risk. The PGWR model's quantification of spatial variation in associations between disease risk and demographic features provides local and demographic structure to core areas of higher risk.

SUBMITTER: Switchenko JM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7943037 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Exploring spatially varying demographic associations with gonorrhea incidence in Baltimore, Maryland, 2002-2005.

Switchenko Jeffrey M JM Jennings Jacky M JM Waller Lance A LA

Journal of geographical systems 20200221 2

The ability to establish spatial links between gonorrhea risk and demographic features is an important step in disease awareness and more effective prevention techniques. Past spatial analyses focused on local variations in <i>risk</i>, but not on spatial variations in <i>associations</i> with demographics. We collected data from the Baltimore City Health Department from 2002 to 2005 and evaluated demographic features known to be associated with gonorrhea risk in Baltimore, by allowing spatial v ...[more]

PMID: 33692652

Similar Datasets

Project description:Many individuals remain sexually active into their eighth decade. Surveillance data suggest that rates of sexually transmitted infections in older patients are increasing. We compared demographics, risk behaviors, and predictors of acute infections in patients 50 years and older versus younger patients attending sexually transmitted disease clinics in Baltimore, Maryland. This was a retrospective study from a large electronic database of visits to two urban sexually transmitted disease clinics between 2005 and 2010. Proportions were compared using the Chi square test. Logistic regression was used to assess predictors of acute sexually transmitted infections in older versus younger groups. It was found that patients over 50 were more likely than younger patients to report never using condoms (32.6% [CI 0.31-0.34] versus 24.1% [CI 0.23-0.25]). The overall prevalence of acute sexually transmitted infections was 18.1% (CI 0.17-0.19) in older and 25.8% (CI 0.25-0.27) in younger patients. Older women were more likely to be diagnosed with trichomoniasis (21.5% [CI 18.6-24.5] versus 13.1% [CI 11.5-14.8]). Black race was predictive of having an acute sexually transmitted infections in younger men (OR 2.2 [CI 1.47-3.35]) and women (OR 2.7 [CI 1.34-5.30]) but not in older men (OR 1.2 [CI 0.79-1.73]) or women (OR 1.2 [CI 0.43-3.15]). Older age was associated with a decreased risk of acute STI diagnosis in younger men and older women only, while having had sex for money or drugs in the past month was predictive only in younger women. Reporting symptoms and increasing numbers of sexual partners in the last six months was predictive of acute sexually transmitted infection diagnosis in all age groups. Older patients seeking care at sexually transmitted disease clinics engage in important risk behaviors. Race, a factor predictive of acute sexually transmitted infections in younger patients is not a significant predictor of sexually transmitted infections in older persons.

Dataset Information

Exploring spatially varying demographic associations with gonorrhea incidence in Baltimore, Maryland, 2002-2005.

Publications

Exploring spatially varying demographic associations with gonorrhea incidence in Baltimore, Maryland, 2002-2005.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure