{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,16]],"date-time":"2025-12-16T12:08:57Z","timestamp":1765886937693,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"CSIRO Publishing","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,22]],"date-time":"2025-08-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1755820800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":6933,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1071\/journalslicense"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2006,8,29]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: The resurgence of syphilis in men who have sex with men (MSM) has proved remarkably resilient in the face of innovative control and prevention interventions. Understanding the determinants of the current outbreaks has been restricted by the available data. Qualitative work is needed to understand individual and community experiences of syphilis and to help guide new prevention and control efforts. Methods: An exploratory study using semi-structured interviews with a convenience sample of MSM (n = 15), recently diagnosed with infectious syphilis, attending sexual health and HIV-outpatient services in Brighton, England. Results: Analysis focussed on men\u2019s beliefs about syphilis, their experience of testing and being given a syphilis diagnosis, mediators of \u2018risky\u2019 sexual behaviour and disclosure to social and sexual contacts. Two beliefs \u2014 \u2018syphilis is rare\u2019 and \u2018syphilis is dirty\u2019 \u2014 dominated respondents\u2019 accounts. These beliefs coloured every aspect of respondents\u2019 clinical and social experience of syphilis, and impeded disclosure and partner notification. They also contributed to misconceptions about behaviours with increased syphilis transmission risk, the mechanics of disease acquisition, health-seeking behaviours and risk-reduction strategies. Conclusions: The apparent failure of syphilis control measures so far may be due to our limited understanding of MSM\u2019s views and experience of STIs other than HIV. Syphilis prevention needs to tackle MSM\u2019s widely held beliefs about sexual communication, risk behaviour and other STIs. The most useful health education interventions are likely to be those that build on MSM\u2019s significant knowledge base and address both the current syphilis crisis and wider sexual health promotion goals.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1071\/sh06028","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2006,8,28]],"date-time":"2006-08-28T23:41:07Z","timestamp":1156808467000},"page":"155-161","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["Making sense of syphilis: beliefs, behaviours and disclosure among gay men recently diagnosed with infectious syphilis and the implications for prevention"],"prefix":"10.1071","volume":"3","author":[{"given":"Natalie L.","family":"Lambert","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"AHIV\/GUM Research Department, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Brighton BN2 5BE, UK."}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"John","family":"Imrie","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"AHIV\/GUM Research Department, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Brighton BN2 5BE, UK."},{"name":"BCentre for Sexual Health and HIV Research, University College London, London WC1E 6AU, UK."},{"name":"DCorresponding author. Email: jimrie@gum.ucl.ac.uk"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Martin J.","family":"Fisher","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"AHIV\/GUM Research Department, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Brighton BN2 5BE, UK."}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Alan","family":"Phillips","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"AHIV\/GUM Research Department, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Brighton BN2 5BE, UK."}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Rod","family":"Watson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CTerrence Higgins Trust South, 61 Ship Street, Brighton BN1 1AE, UK."}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Gill","family":"Dean","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"AHIV\/GUM Research Department, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Brighton BN2 5BE, UK."}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"67","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2006,8,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"2025102616384140200_R1"},{"key":"2025102616384140200_R2"},{"key":"2025102616384140200_R3"},{"key":"2025102616384140200_R4"},{"key":"2025102616384140200_R5"},{"key":"2025102616384140200_R6"},{"key":"2025102616384140200_R7"},{"key":"2025102616384140200_R8"},{"key":"2025102616384140200_R9"},{"key":"2025102616384140200_R10"},{"key":"2025102616384140200_R11"},{"key":"2025102616384140200_R12"},{"key":"2025102616384140200_R13"},{"key":"2025102616384140200_R14"},{"key":"2025102616384140200_R15"},{"key":"2025102616384140200_R16"},{"key":"2025102616384140200_R17"},{"key":"2025102616384140200_R18"},{"key":"2025102616384140200_R19"},{"key":"2025102616384140200_R20"},{"key":"2025102616384140200_R21"},{"key":"2025102616384140200_R22"},{"key":"2025102616384140200_R23"},{"key":"2025102616384140200_R24"},{"key":"2025102616384140200_R25"},{"key":"2025102616384140200_R26"},{"key":"2025102616384140200_R27"},{"key":"2025102616384140200_R28"},{"key":"2025102616384140200_R29"},{"key":"2025102616384140200_R30"}],"container-title":["Sexual Health"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/connectsci.au\/sh\/article-pdf\/3\/3\/155\/1060436\/sh06028.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/connectsci.au\/sh\/article-pdf\/3\/3\/155\/1060436\/sh06028.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,26]],"date-time":"2025-10-26T20:38:48Z","timestamp":1761511128000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/connectsci.au\/sh\/article\/3\/3\/155\/132379\/Making-sense-of-syphilis-beliefs-behaviours-and"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2006,8,29]]},"references-count":30,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2006,8,29]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1071\/sh06028","relation":{},"ISSN":["1448-5028","1449-8987"],"issn-type":[{"type":"print","value":"1448-5028"},{"type":"electronic","value":"1449-8987"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2006,8,29]]}}}