RESUMO
Objective To probe into the characteristics of men who have sex with men living in small-medium sized cities and provide scientific foundation for the formulation of strategy for AIDS prevention and control.Methods A qualitative survey was carried out by convenience sampling for thirty one selected MSM.Results Interviewees had a large age gap,widely different occupations and various degrees of education;they depended mainly on internet and friends' contacts to find their sex partners;their knowledge about HIV/STDs was poor and they were indifferent to the risk of AIDs,but were faced with enormous psychological pressure.Multiple sex partners,unprotected anal intercourse were their main high risk behaviors,and they hoped to have access to free condoms,free HIV detection and hot line consultation.Conclusion To implement prevention in an effective manner,close attention should be paid to the role of key persons within the MSM group,to increasing knowledge of the target population,to protecting their mental health and to creating a friendly social environment for their existence and effective use of internet.