Behavioral and Serologic Survey of Men Who Have Sex with Men in Beijing, China: Implication for HIV Intervention

Abstract

We assessed HIV prevalence and associated behaviors and risk factors among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Beijing, China. Five hundred MSM were recruited for a biological and behavioral survey using respondent-driven sampling (RDS) in 2009. Serologic specimens were tested for markers of HIV and syphilis infection. A computer-assisted personal interview (CAPI) administered questionnaire gathered information including demographic characteristics, sexual behaviors, HIV testing, and social norms concerning condom use. The adjusted HIV prevalence was 8.0%, syphilis 22.0%. HIV testing and disclosure was low; only 39.3% had HIV tested in the past 12 months, 49.7% knew their own HIV status and 22.8% knew their last male partner's HIV status. HIV infection was associated with syphilis, ever having sex with a woman, not knowing the HIV status of the most recent male partner, and never buying condoms in the past 12 months. Stronger endorsement of positive social norms around condom use strongly and predicted lower prevalence of HIV infection. Compared to surveys of similar design in the recent past, HIV continues to spread rapidly among Beijing's MSM. Our results identify points of intervention that, if addressed in time, may still alter the course of the epidemic including the promotion of HIV testing and partner disclosure, syphilis control and particularly changing social norms around condom use.

Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy is Associated with Decreased Incidence of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in a Taiwanese HIV-Positive Population

“…In addition, enrolled subjects may visit other clinics for STD treatments, lowering the estimated STD incidence. Nevertheless, the STD rate reported here is similar to that reported in previous studies, 12,14,15,21,24,25,42,43 and represents the current scenario in Taiwan.…”

“…Fan and associates 24 reported that HIV infection was associated with syphilis among MSM in Beijing, China, and that syphilis control strategies such as changing social norms about condom use may have an impact on HIV prevention. 24 Liao and colleagues 25 noted that targeting the highly prevalent bisexual behavior with multiple sexual partners and unprotected sex in Shandong's gay community may have an influence on HIV transmission. 25 Ko and associates 21 also highlighted that 1 year after enrollment into the CM program in Tainan, Taiwan, 80% of the HIVpositive patients practiced safe sex.…”

Syphilis Infection in a Male Population: Prevalence and Risk Factors

“…In the bivariate analysis, the use of any illicit drug in the past 12 months was a predictive variable for syphilis and is in agreement with other published studies (FAN et al, 2012;PAN et al, 2013;OTIENO et al, 2014). On the other hand, in multivariate analysis, only the realization of circumcision was considered statistically significant as a protective factor for syphilis.…”

“…Other studies have demonstrated differences in the characteristics mentioned above in the studied populations (GUO et al, 2011;PAN et al, 2013). By another hand, in this study, the majority of attended individuals is not married, have had the first sexual relation with less than 16 years, has multiple partners and does not use condoms, these are common features in epidemiological studies of sexually transmitted diseases (FAN et al, 2012;OTIENO et al, 2014).…”

“…As protective measures equally efficient are the promotion of condom use and the treatment of chemical dependence with methadone (LI et al, 2012;SCHUELTER-TREVISOL et al, 2013).…”