Explanation for Sensitive Questions

Attachment 10

Explanation for Sensitive Questions

Enhanced STD Surveillance Network (SSuN)

Revision February 2023

OMB# 0920-1072

Source	Variable Name	Potentially Sensitive Questions	Justification
Attachment #5 & Attachment #8	P3_PTX_Birthsex	What was your sex at birth (recorded on your birth certificate)? 1= Male 2=Female 3=Intersex 4=Unknown 9=Refused	Sex at birth is to differentiate between current gender identity and biologic sex at birth to better represent gender/sexual minorities.
	P3_PTX_GendID	What gender or sex do you consider yourself to be? 1=Male 2=Female 3=Male-to-Female TG 4=Female-to-Male TG 5=TG Unspecified 6=Queer, Gender Non-binary 7=Other 8=Refused	Self-perceived gender identity is behaviorally relevant and critical to understanding the epidemiology of STD risk-behaviors.
	P3_PTX_GenderSP	During the past 12 months, have you had sex with only males, only females or both? 1=Males only 2=Females only 3=Both Males and Females 4=Unknown 9=refused	Gender of sex partners is relevant to STD risk and critical to understanding the epidemiology of STD risk-behaviors.
	P3_PTX_TGSP	During the past 12 months, have you had sex with a transgender man or transgender woman? 1=Yes 2=No 3=Don't Know /Don't Remember/ Not Sure 4=Refused	Sex partner characteristics are relevant to STD risk and critical to understanding the epidemiology of STD risk-behaviors.
	P3_PTX_Sxorient	Do you consider yourself to be …? 1=Heterosexual/Straight (not Gay or Lesbian) 2=Gay/Lesbian/Homosexual 3=Bisexual 4=Other/Don't Know 9=Refused	Sexual orientation is behaviorally relevant and critical to understanding the epidemiology of STD risk-behaviors.
	P3_PTX_GenderMRSP	Thinking back to the last time you had sex, was the person you had sex with…(male/female)? 1=Male 2=Female 3=Male-to-Female TG 4=Female-to-Male TG 5=TG Unknown or Unspecified 9=Unknown	Gender of most recent sex partner is relevant to STD risk and critical to understanding the epidemiology of STD risk-behaviors.
	F1_sex_BC	What is the patient’s sex documented by the birth certificate? 1= Male 2= Female 3=Intersex 4=Unknown	Establishes sex at birth to compare with self-perceived gender identity
	F1_gender	What is the patient’s gender? 1= Male 2= Female 3=Transgender M to F 4=Transgender F to M 5=Transgender unspecified 6= Other 9= Not captured	Self-perceived gender identity is behaviorally relevant and critical to understanding the epidemiology of STD risk-behaviors.
	F1_MENSEX	How many male sex partners has the patient had in the last 3 months?	Establishes sexual activity profile and is relevant to STD risk and understanding the epidemiology of STD risk-behaviors
	F1_FEMSEX	How many female sex partners has the patient had in the last 3 months?	Establishes sexual activity profile and is relevant to STD risk and understanding the epidemiology of STD risk-behaviors
	F1_TRANSEX	How many transgender sex partners has the patient had in the last 3 months?	Establishes sexual activity profile and is relevant to STD risk and understanding the epidemiology of STD risk-behaviors
	F1_MSM_12	Does the male patient have a history of having male sex partners in the previous 12 months?	Establishes sexual activity profile and is relevant to STD risk and understanding the epidemiology of STD risk-behaviors
	F1_Sexor3	Has the patient had sex with men, women, or both over the past 3 months?	Sites must either collect both F1_MENSEX, F1_FEMSEX, F1_TRANSEX or both F1_SEXOR3 and NUMSEX. It is NOT necessary to collect all 5 variables.
	F1_Sexuality	Does the patient consider him/herself gay (homosexual), straight, or bisexual? 1 = gay/homosexual 2= straight/heterosexual 3= bisexual 4= Other 9 = Not captured	Constructs a self-identified sexual activity profile of the patient
	F1_HIV_partner	Does the patient report having sex with a known HIV positive partner in the last 12 months? 1= Yes 2= No 3= Unsure/ doesn’t know 9= Not captured	Knowledge and behaviors of STD/HIV prevention among patients provide critical insight into ongoing risk
	NS1_Gender	What is your current gender identity? 1= Male 2= Female 3=Transgender M to F 4=Transgender F to M 5=Transgender unspecified 6= Other 9= Unknown	Self-perceived gender identity is behaviorally relevant and critical to understanding the epidemiology of STD risk-behaviors.
	NS1_Sex	What is the patient’s sex documented by the birth certificate? 1= Male 2= Female 9=Unknown	Establishes sex at birth to compare with self-perceived gender identity
		Does the patient consider him/herself gay (homosexual), straight, or bisexual? 1 = gay/homosexual 2= straight/heterosexual 3= bisexual 4= Other 9 = Not captured	Constructs a self-identified sexual activity profile of the patient