Factors associated with self-reported unprotected anal intercourse among men who have sex with men in Changsha city of Hunan province, China

Abstract

Men who have sex with men (MSM) in China are highly susceptible to HIV infection and HIV prevalence among Chinese MSM is rapidly increasing in recent years. Unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) is a major contributing factor of HIV transmission. This study aims to identify factors associated with UAI among MSM in Changsha city, China. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 642 MSM in Changsha city from July 2009 to June 2011 via a venue-based sampling method. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, sexual behaviours and utilisation of HIV/AIDS services were collected to determine the associates of UAI in MSM. Among the 642 MSM, 184 (28.7%) reported having UAI with male partners at the last sexual episode. UAI was associated with the venues where MSM met other MSM, and having unprotected sex with female partners at last the sexual episode and in the past six months. In addition, UAI was significant associated with not being exposed to HIV interventions, including free condom, lubricant, HIV testing and counselling, and peer education. MSM who have UAI practice are more likely to have unprotected sex with female; hence, potentially bridging HIV to the general female population. Specific harm-reduction programmes are shown to have significant impacts in reducing UAI and should be scaled up among MSM in China.

Keywords:

• Unprotected anal intercourse
• HIV
• men who have sex with men
• MSM
• China

Conflicts of interest

None declared.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Eric P.F. Chow http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1766-0657

Additional information

Funding

We thank the following organisations for their grants: the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, the University of New South Wales, the Endeavour Research Fellowship (Award ID: 2744_2012) and the Australian Postgraduate Awards to support EPFC’ study. EPFC is supported by the Early Career Fellowships from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) (No. 1091226).