Abstract
BackgroundIndividuals with high sexual compulsivity are preoccupied with their sexual desire to such an extent that it interferes with their normal daily life and can inhibit self-control. Previous studies have found a close association between sexual compulsivity and condomless sex among different populations; however, no studies have investigated this among unmarried female migrant workers in China. This study aimed to validate the Sexual Compulsivity Scale (SCS) for appropriate use and examine the association between sexual compulsivity and condomless sex in this target population.MethodsIn 2015, we recruited 1325 unmarried female migrant workers in Shanghai, China. Information about sociodemographics, sexual compulsivity, and condomless sex were collected using a structured questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis and reliability analysis were performed to validate the Chinese version of the SCS. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between sexual compulsivity and condomless sex.ResultsThe prevalence of condomless sex in the previous 6 months was 66.8% among all participants. The SCS was proven internally consistent for the overall scale (Cronbach’s α = 0.89), and two factors, Social Disruptiveness (Cronbach’s α = 0.87) and Perceived Self-Control (Cronbach’s α = 0.84), were extracted. With mean total score of 18.25 (standard deviation = 4.94) after adjusting for significant sociodemographic factors, the SCS total scores (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.02–1.07) and two subscale scores (AOR = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.02–1.13; AOR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.02–1.10) were all related to inconsistent condom use with partners in the previous 6 months.ConclusionsThe Chinese version of the SCS was found to be well adaptable for use among unmarried Chinese female migrant workers and a potential predictor for condomless sex. In addition to safe sex interventions, counselling on managing sexually compulsivity should also be provided in this population.
Highlights
Individuals with high sexual compulsivity are preoccupied with their sexual desire to such an extent that it interferes with their normal daily life and can inhibit self-control
Sociodemographic and behavior-related characteristics The 1325 participants were distributed among three age groups, with 35.0% aged over 23 years old
Findings from our study demonstrated that two-thirds of the unmarried female migrant workers surveyed had engaged in vaginal intercourse without a condom in the previous 6 months, which was nearly in accordance with the results of other studies; our results were slightly higher than those for university students and unmarried youth but lower than the results for female sex workers
Summary
Individuals with high sexual compulsivity are preoccupied with their sexual desire to such an extent that it interferes with their normal daily life and can inhibit self-control. Previous studies have found a close association between sexual compulsivity and condomless sex among different populations; no studies have investigated this among unmarried female migrant workers in China. As of 2015, there were approximately 247 million internal migrants in China [1] Half of these migrants were female [2], mostly young, unmarried workers aged around 20 to 24 years old [3]. The immense scale and high mobility of these migrants have raised many public health concerns, including high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). There is increasing concern that this large-scale migration might be contributing to the diffusion of STIs by acting as a bridge between low-risk and high-risk individuals in the general population [5,6,7]
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