HIV testing and sexual risks among migrant men who have sex with men: findings from a large cross-sectional study in Beijing, China

ABSTRACT

Despite the exacerbating HIV transmission among migrant men who have sex with men (MSM) in China, few epidemiological studies explore their HIV testing/risk profiles. We sought to explore sociodemographic/behavioral correlates of HIV/syphilis and HIV testing among migrant MSM. A study was conducted among 3,588 HIV-uninfected MSM. Participants were recruited via short message services, peer referral, web-advertisement and community outreach. HIV/syphilis infections were lab-confirmed. Migrant MSM were more likely to be HIV-infected compared to local MSM. Among 2,699 migrant MSM, HIV testing was associated with older age, living longer in Beijing, having ≥10 lifetime male sexual partners (LMSPs), having insertive anal sex; while being unemployed/retired and having condomless receptive anal sex (CRAS) were associated with a lower odds of HIV testing. Being married, living longer in Beijing, ever testing for HIV and having sex with women were associated with lower HIV odds; while being unemployed/retired, having higher HIV perception, having ≥ 10 LMSPs and having CRAS were associated a higher HIV odds. Increased likelihood of syphilis was associated with older age, being employed, higher HIV perception, having ≥10 LMSPs and having CRAS. Our study provides implications for targeted interventions to tackle HIV/STI risks and improve HIV testing among migrant Chinese MSM.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV
• syphilis
• HIV testing
• migrant
• men who have sex with men
• China

Acknowledgements

We thank volunteers from Chaoyang Chinese AIDS Volunteer Group, staff from Xicheng and Chaoyang District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, for their assistance in recruiting the participants, collecting data, and conducting focus group discussions.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health [grant number R01AI094562 and R34AI091446].