[Study on 1389 Men Who Have Sex with Men Regarding Their HIV High-risk Behaviors and Associated Factors in Mainland China in 2004]

Objective: To study the HIV related high-risk behaviors and associated factors on the spread of HIV among men having sex with men(MSM) who lived in mainland China and to provide evidence for developing related policies and intervention measures.

Methods: Questionnaires were distributed at gay bars and volunteer activity venues in six big cities of China. Data on 1389 valid cases was collected and urine HIV screening test was provided. Data was analyzed with SPSS 11.0.

Results: The respondents were 27.62 year olds on average with an average age for first intercourse at 19.18. The most commonly available way of finding a sex partner was through internet(43.07%), followed by gay bar and public bathrooms(35.29 % ). 6 months prior to the study, the average number of their male sex partners was 5.69 including 4.37 unfamiliar sex partners and the average number of anal-intercourse was 4.33 with 11.61 per cent of them had experienced group sex. 13 cases of them showed positive results for preliminary urine HIV screening test. In the prior 6 months, 32.46 per cent of those who had experienced intercourse using condom every time while 76.37 per cent of them during the last sex episode. In the previous 6 months, 47.18 per cent of those who had experienced intercourse with women never used condoms.

Conclusion: HIV high-risk behaviors are ubiquitous among MSM and AIDS intervention measures should be significantly strengthened in reaching MSM via a wide variety of conduits, especially internet. Meanwhile, a gay-friendly environment for prevention and control of AIDS is vital.