A global meta-analysis of gonorrhoea and chlamydia prevalence among men who have sex with men from 2000 to 2022
Davies, Ella P;
Tsuboi, Motoyuki;
Evans, Jayne;
Rowley, Jane;
Korenromp, Eline L;
Clayton, Tim;
Chico, R Matthew;
(2025)
A global meta-analysis of gonorrhoea and chlamydia prevalence among men who have sex with men from 2000 to 2022.
International Journal of STD & AIDS.
pp. 1-11.
ISSN 0956-4624
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/09564624251333489
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Introduction: We conducted a global systematic review and meta-analysis of gonorrhoea and chlamydia among men who have sex with men (MSM) from 2000 to 2022. Methods: We searched four databases to identify studies conducted between 1 January 2000 and 19 April 2022 that reported prevalence from aetiological assays. We extracted data, calculated point estimates, corrected and then pooled them using random-effects models. We stratified results by United Nations regions and conducted subgroup analyses established apriori. Results: 172 studies met our inclusion criteria, providing 387 prevalence data points from 57 countries. The overall pooled prevalence for gonorrhoea was 7.2% [95% CI: 6.0 to 8.5; 188 data points;
n
= 347,253] and for chlamydia was 9.9% (95% CI: 8.8 to 11.0; 190 data points;
n
= 342,799). For gonorrhoea, pooled prevalence between 2000 and 2010 was 5.0% (95% CI: 3.7 to 6.5; 89 data points;
n
= 78,557) compared to 9.3% (7.7–11.1; 99 data points;
n
= 268,696) between 2011 and 2022,
p
< 0.001. For chlamydia, pooled prevalence between 2000 to 2010 was 6.6% (95% CI: 5.4 to 7.9; 95 data points;
n
= 91,015) compared to 13.6% (12.0–15.2; 95 data points;
n
= 251,784) between 2011 and 2022,
p
< 0.001
Conclusion: A holistic approach is needed to reduce the curable STIs burden among MSM.