Correlates of consistent condom use among men who have sex with men recruited through the Internet in Huzhou city: a cross-sectional survey

Meihua Jin,Zhongrong Yang,Zhengquan Dong,Jiankang Han

doi:10.1186/1471-2458-13-1101

Meihua Jin, Zhongrong Yang + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-1101

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Abstract

BackgroundThere is growing evidence that men who have sex with men (MSM) are currently a group at high risk of HIV infection in China. Our study aims to know the factors affecting consistent condom use among MSM recruited through the internet in Huzhou city.MethodsAn anonymous cross-sectional study was conducted by recruiting 410 MSM living in Huzhou city via the Internet. The socio-demographic profiles (age, education level, employment status, etc.) and sexual risk behaviors of the respondents were investigated. Bivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to compare the differences between consistent condom users and inconsistent condom users. Variables with significant bivariate between groups’ differences were used as candidate variables in a stepwise multivariate logistic regression model. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS for Windows 17.0, and a p value < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.ResultsAccording to their condom use, sixty-eight respondents were classified into two groups. One is consistent condom users, and the other is inconsistent condom users. Multivariate logistic regression showed that respondents who had a comprehensive knowledge of HIV (OR = 4.08, 95% CI: 1.85-8.99), who had sex with male sex workers (OR = 15.30, 95% CI: 5.89-39.75) and who had not drunk alcohol before sex (OR = 3.10, 95% CI: 1.38-6.95) were more likely to be consistent condom users.ConclusionsConsistent condom use among MSM was associated with comprehensive knowledge of HIV and a lack of alcohol use before sexual contact. As a result, reducing alcohol consumption and enhancing education regarding the risks of HIV among sexually active MSM would be effective in preventing of HIV transmission.

Highlights

There is growing evidence that men who have sex with men (MSM) are currently a group at high risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in China
In recent years, dramatic increasing in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission among men who have sex with men (MSM) has been observed in China [1]
Many studies have reported sexual risk factors that are associated with Unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) among MSM recruited using venue-based sampling [4,5,6], but it is unknown whether MSM who meet sexual partners via the Internet and who use condoms inconsistently have other risky behaviors

Summary

Introduction

There is growing evidence that men who have sex with men (MSM) are currently a group at high risk of HIV infection in China. Our study aims to know the factors affecting consistent condom use among MSM recruited through the internet in Huzhou city. Huzhou city is a low AIDS epidemic area in China, but has rapidly increasing HIV prevalence among MSM in recent three years (up from 4.1% in 2009 to 31.7% in 2012). MSM are at high risk of becoming infected with HIV due to their sexual behaviors such as multiple sexual partners and unprotected anal intercourse (UAI, i.e., inconsistent condom use) [3]. Many studies have reported sexual risk factors that are associated with UAI among MSM recruited using venue-based sampling [4,5,6], but it is unknown whether MSM who meet sexual partners via the Internet and who use condoms inconsistently have other risky behaviors.

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