(P31) INCIDENCE RATES AND CORRELATES OF SYPHILIS AMONG MEN WHO REPORT ANY COMBINATION OF SEX PARTNERS THAT INCLUDE WOMEN, LOS ANGELES COUNTY, 2023

Background:
In LAC, the syphilis epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM) is longstanding. Since 2012, the incidence of early syphilis has increased significantly among heterosexual populations, particularly persons of reproductive potential (PRP), necessitating a new approach to syphilis control. LAC Department of Public Health (Public Health) has developed an enhanced approach to respond to the growing syphilis epidemic among PRP and congenital syphilis (CS). Although recognized as the primary source of PRP’s syphilis risk, men who have sex with women (MSW) have not been specifically targeted by enhanced interventions. Enhanced interventions targeting specific sub-groups of MSW with the highest incidence of syphilis may help curb the epidemic among PRP and prevent new CS cases.

Methods:
We used surveillance data from 2023 to estimate the overall incidence rate (IR) of syphilis diagnoses among MSW in LAC. We included cases among male persons whose records indicated any combination of sex partners that included women. We stratified rates by available Social Determinants of Health data to identify which MSW may benefit most from prevention activities.

Results:
We estimated an overall syphilis IR of 4.4 per 10,000 for MSW in LAC. This is lower than the IR of syphilis for MSM (152.6), but higher than that for women (4.2). MSW who are living with HIV (215.2), experiencing homelessness (47.2), Black or African American (14.6), live in the South LA Service Planning Area (9.6), and American Indian or Alaska Native (9.1) had IRs that were 2 to 49 times as high as the MSW average.

Conclusion:
This work identifies the sub-groups of MSW in LAC with the highest incidence of syphilis, and therefore those that should be prioritized for enhanced interventions. These results provide support for Public Health to develop an enhanced intervention for syphilis among MSW.