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. 2013 Nov 16:13:549.
doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-13-549.

Pattern of HIV testing and multiple sexual partnerships among men who have sex with men in China

Eric P F Chow, Jun Jing, Yuji Feng, Dai Min, Jun Zhang, David P Wilson, Xiaohu Zhang  1 , Lei Zhang
Affiliations

Pattern of HIV testing and multiple sexual partnerships among men who have sex with men in China

Eric P F Chow et al. BMC Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are a hidden but emerging population susceptible to HIV infection against a background of rapidly increasing HIV prevalence in China. Low HIV testing levels and multiple partnerships among MSM are two major contributing factors to HIV transmission.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 447 Chinese MSM in Changsha and Tianjin cities from November to December 2011 using an anonymous questionnaire. We aim to investigate (1) the trend of HIV testing rates among Chinese MSM during 2009 to 2011; and (2) the patterns of multiple sexual relationships with male, female and commercial partners.

Results: The self-reported past-12-months HIV testing level among Chinese MSM increased from 16.6% in 2009 to 46.3% in 2010 and 58.6% in 2011 (χ(2) = 173.49, p < 0.001). Compared with men who have tested for HIV, the never-tested MSM were generally younger, never married, students, and more likely to have unprotected anal intercourse with non-commercial male partners. Furthermore, 21.3% (56/263) MSM reported having multiple regular male and female sexual partnerships and 6.2% (16/257) reported having commercial male partners in the past six months. However, individuals who were never-tested for HIV are consistently less likely to engage in multiple sexual relationships.

Conclusions: HIV testing rates have increased substantially among Chinese MSM in the period 2009-2011, although significant barriers to testing remain. Multiple sexual partnerships, and especially bisexual behaviours, are common among Chinese MSM.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
HIV testing behaviours in the past 12 months among 447 MSM from 2009 to 2011. The bar charts represent the number of HIV tests received per person per year. The venn diagram shows the proportion of consecutive HIV testing throughout the three-year period.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of sexual acts frequency between MSM with non-commercial male, commercial male and female partners.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Pattern of multiple sexual partners among Chinese MSM based on their self-identified sexual identity. The bracketed nominator and denominator denote the number of individuals indicating an affirmative answer and the number of valid replies to the particular questions.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Zhang L, Chow EP, Jing J, Zhuang X, Li X, He M, Sun H, Li X, Gorgens M, Wilson D. et al. HIV prevalence in China: integration of surveillance data and a systematic review. Lancet. 2013;13(11):955–963. - PubMed
    1. State Council AIDS Working Committee Office (SCAWCO) China 2010 UNGASS Country Progress Report. Beijing, China: Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China; 2010.
    1. State Council AIDS Working Committee Office (SCAWCO) UNGASS Country Progress Report P. R. China (2006–2007) Beijing, China: Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China; 2008.
    1. Chow EP, Wilson DP, Zhang J, Jing J, Zhang L. Human immunodeficiency virus prevalence is increasing among men who have sex with men in China: findings from a review and meta-analysis. Sex Transm Dis. 2011;38(9):845–857. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0b013e31821a4f43. - DOI - PubMed
    1. State Council AIDS Working Committee Office (SCAWCO) 2012 China AIDS Response Progress Report. Beijing, China: Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China; 2012. p. 70.

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