Explanation for Sensitive Questions

Attachment 10

Explanation for Sensitive Questions

Enhanced STD Surveillance Network (SSuN)

Revision April 2025

OMB# 0920-1072 (exp. 09/30/2026)

Source	Variable Name	Potentially Sensitive Questions	Justification
	P3_PTX_SexSP	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	Sex of sex partners is 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_SexMRSP	Thinking back to the last time you had sex, was the person you had sex with…(male/female)? 1=Male 2=Female	Sex of most recent sex partner is relevant to STD risk 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_Sexor3	Has the patient had sex with men, women, or both over the past 3 months?	Sites must either collect both F1_MENSEX andF1_FEMSEX,or both F1_SEXOR3 and NUMSEX. It is NOT necessary to collect all 4 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 STI/HIV prevention among patients provide critical insight into ongoing risk