Abstract
BackgroundFindings from specific countries indicated group sex was common among men who have sex with men (MSM), and men who reported group sex participation were at increased risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The purpose of the current analysis was to describe the prevalence and correlates of group sex participation among a community-based sample of MSM in Chongqing, southwestern China.MethodsConvenience sampling method was used to recruit participants and data were collected through an anonymous questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify correlates of group sex participation.ResultsOverall, 1151 eligible participants were enrolled in the study. 14.7% of MSM reported participating in group sex in their lifetime, and 5.8% reported group sex participation in the prior 6 months. Factors positively associated with group sex participation in both the prior 6 months and the lifetime included: monthly income ≥3000 Yuan (adjusted odds ratios [aOR] = 3.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.25–10.75; aOR = 2.30, 95% CI 1.21–4.35), initiating anal sex before 18 years old (aOR = 1.86, 95% CI 1.03–3.34; aOR = 2.00, 95% CI 1.31–3.05), using gay apps to seek sex partners (aOR = 7.41, 95% CI 2.57–21.33; aOR = 9.75, 95% CI 4.92–19.33), recreational drug use (aOR = 10.10, 95% CI 5.52–18.49; aOR = 4.75, 95% CI 3.20–7.05) and having condomless internal ejaculation (CIE) (aOR = 3.66, 95% CI 2.01–6.68; aOR = 1.61, 95% CI 1.11–2.35). Factors only associated with group sex participation in the lifetime were older age (age between 26 and 35 years old: aOR = 2.06, 95% CI 1.30–3.26; age > 35 years old: aOR = 1.95, 95% CI 1.10–3.46) and history of STIs (aOR = 2.51, 95% CI 1.37–4.62).ConclusionsThe results of this study suggested that group sex participation was a potentially risky context for acquisition and transmission of HIV/STIs. Close attention should be given to MSM who participated in group sex, and appropriate risk reduction interventions should be developed specific to this subgroup of MSM.
Highlights
Findings from specific countries indicated group sex was common among men who have sex with men (MSM), and men who reported group sex participation were at increased risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/ sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
A growing body of evidence has indicated that men who have sex with men (MSM) are one of the groups seriously affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in China
Socio-demographics, drug use and sexual behaviors of participants Overall, 1151 MSM were included in the present analysis
Summary
Findings from specific countries indicated group sex was common among men who have sex with men (MSM), and men who reported group sex participation were at increased risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/ sexually transmitted infections (STIs). A growing body of evidence has indicated that men who have sex with men (MSM) are one of the groups seriously affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in China. National estimates on the HIV epidemic showed that there were 780,000 people living with HIV (PLHIV) in China by the end of 2011, 17.4% of which were attributed to homosexual transmission, while sexual contact between men only accounted for 14.7 and 11.0% of PLHIV in 2009 and 2007, respectively [1, 2]. Recent update on the HIV epidemic in China revealed homosexual contacts accounted for 25.5% of new HIV diagnoses in 2017 [3], which was doubled since 2007 (12.2%) [2]
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