Characterizing STI testing and diagnosis disparities between Asian people with HIV and other racial/ethnic subpopulations in Washington, District of Columbia: a longitudinal analysis of the DC Cohort, 2018-2023

Authors

• Jenny Yeon Kim, Department of Global Health, The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, DC 20037, USA. Email: yhk625@gwmail.gwu.edu.
• Lauren F. O'Connor, Department of Epidemiology, The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, DC 20037, USA. Email: laurenoconnor@email.gwu.edu, yjiop0705@gwmail.gwu.edu, byrne410@email.gwu.edu, acastel@gwu.edu.
• Yun Seong Ji, Department of Epidemiology, The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, DC 20037, USA. Email: laurenoconnor@email.gwu.edu, yjiop0705@gwmail.gwu.edu, byrne410@email.gwu.edu, acastel@gwu.edu.
• Morgan Byrne, Department of Epidemiology, The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, DC 20037, USA. Email: laurenoconnor@email.gwu.edu, yjiop0705@gwmail.gwu.edu, byrne410@email.gwu.edu, acastel@gwu.edu.
• Michael A. Horberg, Mid-Atlantic Permanente Research Institute, Rockville, MD 20852, USA. Email: Michael.Horberg@kp.org.
• Amanda D. Castel, Department of Epidemiology, The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, DC 20037, USA. Email: laurenoconnor@email.gwu.edu, yjiop0705@gwmail.gwu.edu, byrne410@email.gwu.edu, acastel@gwu.edu.
• Anne K. Monroe, Department of Epidemiology, The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, DC 20037, USA. Email: laurenoconnor@email.gwu.edu, yjiop0705@gwmail.gwu.edu, byrne410@email.gwu.edu, acastel@gwu.edu.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2-5-2026

Journal

Sexual health

Volume

23

Issue

1

DOI

10.1071/SH25144

Keywords

Asian people with HIV; STI screening; chlamydia; ethnic disparity; gonorrhea; healthcare access; sexually transmitted infections; syphilis

Abstract

BACKGROUND: People of Asian ethnicity represent one of the fastest-growing populations in the United States and may experience unique social and cultural challenges to accessing sexual healthcare. This analysis explores disparities in annual sexually transmitted infection screening and diagnosis rates per person-year between Asian and non-Asian people with human immunodeficiency virus in Washington, District of Columbia (DC). METHODS: Using District Columbia cohort data, a longitudinal study of people living with human immunodeficiency virus receiving care in Washington, DC, we analyzed people with human immunodeficiency virus aged 18 or older with at least 1 year of follow-up between 2018 and 2023. Logistic regression was used to examine differences in sexually transmitted infection screening and diagnoses between Asian and non-Asian participants, while linear trend analyses were used to assess changes in the number of screenings and diagnoses between Asian and non-Asian participants. RESULTS: Among 8679 eligible participants, 0.88% (n = 76) were Asian. No significant differences in total sexually transmitted infection screenings or diagnoses were observed. However, Asian participants had higher screening rates per person-year for pharyngeal and urogenital gonorrhea, pharyngeal chlamydia, and syphilis. Chlamydia incidence was higher among Asian than non-Asian participants. Over 30% of both groups met the annual screening recommendation during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Asians had comparable screening rates to non-Asians, but the small sample size limited the generalizability of our findings. Nonetheless, this study helps address an existing gap in the literature on Asian sexual health. Larger studies with detailed ethnic and social data are needed to deepen our understanding of sexual health service use within Asian communities.

APA Citation

Kim, Jenny Yeon; O'Connor, Lauren F.; Ji, Yun Seong; Byrne, Morgan; Horberg, Michael A.; Castel, Amanda D.; and Monroe, Anne K., "Characterizing STI testing and diagnosis disparities between Asian people with HIV and other racial/ethnic subpopulations in Washington, District of Columbia: a longitudinal analysis of the DC Cohort, 2018-2023" (2026). GW Authored Works. Paper 8748.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/8748

Department

Epidemiology