Study on the prevalence of HIV and AIDS-related risky sexual behaviors among male university students who have sex with men in Beijing, China

Abstract

To assess the prevalence of HIV and risky sexual behaviors among university students who have sex with men (MSM) in Beijing. MSM students in the universities were mainly recruited via internet. Questionnaires were self-administered to collect social demographic information and AIDS-related risky sexual behaviors. After completing the questionnaire, blood sample was collected to determine HIV infection through serological testing. χ(2) test and logistic regression were employed for univariate and multivariate analysis, respectively. A total of 157 students were recruited with mean age of 22.7 ± 2.8 years old, 12.1% of them were minorities and 77.7% were self-identified as homosexual. 98.1% had engaged in anal intercourse (AI) in their lifetime and 73.9% reported that AI was common sexual behavior they often practised. In the past 6 months, 58.6% had ever had unprotected anal intercourse (UAI), 58.0% never used condoms during oral intercourse, and 59.2% had multiple sex partners (≥ 2). Nearly half of them believed that they were at low or no risk of contracting HIV and the prevalence of HIV infection was 2.5%. Data from logistic regression analysis showed that ever having had sex with a casual partner in a lifetime (OR = 13.10), understanding that serving an insertive role had less risk than being receptive during the AI (OR = 3.37), and ever having been to a gay bar (OR = 2.49) was independently related to having multiple sex partners in the past 6 months. Despite the extensive programs on education, behaviors regarding UAI and ever having had multiple sex partners were still commonly seen among university MSM students. Interventions were needed to prevent HIV transmission in this population.