Migration, behaviour change and HIV/STD risks in China.

This paper examines if and how temporary migration increases the risk for HIV/STDs in China. Results suggest that temporary migrants had significantly higher prevalence of HIV-risk sexual and drug using behaviours but no significant differences were found between migrants and non-migrants in prevalence of HIV/STDs. Employing logistic regression analysis, we examined three mechanisms--lax social control, social isolation and migrant selectivity--by which the process of migration may lead to behaviour changes that increase migrants' HIV/STD risks. Results indicate that post-migration lax social control was the most significant mediating factor between migration and HIV risk behaviours. Temporary migrants are at high risk of HIV/STDs. Prevention interventions need to pay particular attention to migrants' post-migration lax social control.

Misconceptions about HIV transmission, stigma and willingness to take sexual risks in southwestern China.

Based on data from a population-based survey conducted in 2003 in a province in southwestern China, we provide data on knowledge about HIV transmission, HIV stigmatizing attitudes, and willingness to take HIV-related risks. There were widespread misconceptions, especially among females, about how HIV is transmitted and negative feelings toward someone with HIV. There was considerable willingness to take more sexual risks (not using a condom; nondisclosure of HIV seropositive status) with a secondary than with a primary sexual partner. The misconceptions and stigma surrounding HIV may make it difficult to focus on HIV as a 'disease' as opposed to a 'social malady' for survey participants.

An empirical analysis of stressors for gay men and lesbians.

This research describes the empirical classification of stressors for gay men and lesbians. Volunteer respondents were recruited through a free local gay and lesbian newspaper, through gay and lesbian student organizations nationwide, through gay and lesbian bookstores nationwide, and at a gay festival in St. Louis. Nine hundred seventy-nine (979) participants completed a 70-item measure with stressors that had been identified in previous qualitative research. Participants were asked to indicate the degree to which they had experienced stress associated with a variety of experiences. Participants also completed a measure of dysphoria (CES-D), responded about their degree of openness regarding sexual orientation, and provided information about their relationship status and involvement with gay groups and activities. Using confirmatory factor analysis, a six-factor model was predicted to account for the data. One-factor, six-factor, and ten-factor models were tested. The ten-factor model yielded the best fit with the data and accounted for 63.5% of the variance. The factor structure remained stable when gay men were compared to lesbians, when those endorsing a predominantly gay versus exclusively gay orientation were compared, and when those in a relationship were compared to those who were not in a relationship. Increased gay stress was associated with more dysphoria. Implications of these findings are discussed and directions for future research are considered.