Identifying risk factors for sexually transmitted infections and enhancing testing among sexual minority women in China: a national cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT

Evidence showed a greater risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among sexual minority women (SMW). Limited studies investigated characteristics and sexual health among Chinese SMW. To fill the current gaps, the research group launched the first national survey to explore sexual behavior and health outcomes among SMW in China. The study recruited participants online during Nov. 1–15, 2020, and disseminated online questionnaires to harvest participants’ sexual behaviors and self-reported STIs in the past year. All the participants read and signed an online informed consent form. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and 95 percent confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated in the analysis. Sex toy use (AOR = 1.5; 95 percent CI: 1.3, 1.7), G-spot exploration (AOR = 1.5; 95 percent CI: 1.2, 1.7), symptoms in the past year (AOR = 3.8; 95 percent CI: 3.1, 4.6), and self-reported STIs (AOR = 2.0; 95 percent CI: 1.6, 2.7) were associated with symptoms during sex. Factors associated with self-reported STIs were having first-time sex with a male (AOR = 2.0; 95 percent CI: 1.5, 2.5), digital-vaginal contact (AOR = 2.3; 95 percent CI: 1.1, 4.5), sexual intercourse with a male in the past year (AOR = 1.8; 95 percent CI: 1.2, 2.5), symptoms during sex (AOR = 2.0; 95 percent CI: 1.5, 2.6), and symptoms in the past year (AOR = 6.1; 95 percent CI: 4.8, 7.8). SMW reported risk behaviors for STIs, and women who have sex with women and men (WSW/M) were more susceptible to the infections. Tailored interventions should be developed to raise awareness of STIs and increase STI testing uptake.

KEYWORDS:

• China
• risk behavior
• sexual behavior
• sexual health
• sexually minority women
• sexually transmitted infections

Acknowledgments

The authors thank all study participants.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Compliance with ethical standards

The study protocol, informed consent form, and procedures were reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of the National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention (reference number X191030591). All methods were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the first author, [XW], upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 81903378]. The funding institution had no role in the study design, data analysis, or manuscript drafting