HIV-Related Behaviors, Social Support and Health-Related Quality of Life among Men Who Have Sex with Men and Women (MSMW): A Cross-Sectional Study in Chongqing, China

Abstract

BackgroundHealth-related quality of life (HRQOL) has become commonly used both as a concept and as a field of research. However, little is known about the HRQOL of men who have sex with men and women (MSMW). The aim of this study was to examine HIV-related behaviors, social support, and HRQOL status and explore its predictors among MSMW.MethodsAn anonymous cross-sectional study was conducted by snowball sampling method in 2013. A total of 563 Chinese MSM completed a structured questionnaire. The HRQOL and social support were measured with the Chinese version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-BRFE) and the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), respectively.ResultsOf the 563 MSM analyzed, 77 (13.68%) were MSMW who had a higher proportion of in-marriage and preference for an insertive role as compared with the men who have sex with men only (MSMO) (P<0.05). As high as 70.13% of MSMW had no regular sex partners and 72.73% of MSMW reported engaging in unprotected anal sex in the last six months. 36.36% had tested for HIV, while only 12.99% had accepted HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) services. The scores of objective support and subjective support in MSMW were significantly higher than that of MSMO (P<0.05). No statistically significant difference was found in scores of all the four domains of the HRQOL between MSMW and MSMO. When comparing the HRQOL scores of MSMW with the Chinese general population reference group, the scores of MSMW were significantly lower in physical health domain. In a multivariate regression model, age, monthly income, sexual role, VCT acceptability, subjective support were associated with variability in HRQOL.ConclusionsTo improve the HRQOL among MSMW, more attention needs to be paid to those with low social support, low-income, the old and those prefer a receptive role during anal sex populations.

Stress, needs, and quality of life of people living with human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS in Taiwan

“…The results of this study were in agreement with a study in China [4]: the QoL of PLWHA was inferior to that of the general population. However, PLWHA reported better QoL when compared with that of family members of PLWHA in Taiwan in our previous study [18], especially in social and environmental domains in Taiwan.…”

Subsequent Sexual Risks Among Men Who Have Sex with Men May Differ by Sex of First Partner and Age at Sexual Debut: A Cross-Sectional Study in Beijing, China

“…These geographical and cultural constructs may influence some MSM to use marriage as a disguise [9]. These men may endure pressures of gay-related stigma, fear of sexual orientation disclosure, as well as carrying a heavy responsibility to support their families [16]. These pressures may partially explain our finding of a higher likelihood of hazardous or binge drinking problems among this subgroup [43].…”

“…A recent meta-analysis showed that 31.2% of the 28,739 MSM in China had ever had sex with a woman [13]. Men who have sex with men and women (MSMW) are less likely to be infected with HIV than MSM-only (MSMO), probably because MSMW are more likely to practice insertive anal (with a man) and virginal intercourse with a woman, which is associated with lower HIV risk compared to receptive anal intercourse with a man [12, 14–16]. On the other hand, MSMW are shown not to use condom consistently with female sexual partners [17], which may bridge HIV/STIs to their average-risk female sexual partners [18].…”

Early Sexual Debut and HIV Infection among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Shenzhen, China

“…There were cases in some previous study which indicated that certain proportion of MSM may have bisexual behaviors [14]. Thus, among these MSM, it could be reasonable to divide early sexual debut into early VSD and early ASD when investigating the effect of early sexual debut on HIV infection.…”