[Study on the association of partner-seeking and high risk behaviors related to AIDS among men who have sex with men in the different sites].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the situation of AIDS-related high risk behaviors among men who have sex with men (MSM) ever experienced partner-seeking in different sites. METHODS: Target sampling for cross-sectional study ("snowball") and valid anonymous questionnaires were adopted to compare the differences of high risk behaviors related to AIDS. 1834 MSM were studied in nine cities who sought sex partners through internet, bars or bath ponds. RESULTS: Compared to the other corresponding groups, those MSM from the bath pond group had a significant larger number of total sexual partners, chances of having anal and oral sex with same sex, and ones of anal sex in the previous six months with the median number as 40, 16, 20 and 4 respectively. Internet group had a higher rate of bleeding (36.4%) when having sexual intercourse in the previous year and a lower proportion of 8.7% exchanged sex for money, and 14.9% and 13.3% in both bar and bath pond groups respectively. Bar group had significant lower rates of condom use with 79.6% while having sex with men and 45.3% with women, but higher rates (28.9%) ever participated in group sex in the last year and 4.2% with HIV infection. CONCLUSION: MSM had high risk behaviors related to AIDS appeared in different sites when seeking partners. Intervention strategy should be taken, according to the characteristics of different subpopulations, especially on the bath pond group.

[The impact of childhood sexual abuse on the development of AIDS related high risk behaviors and psychological appearances among men who have sex with men].

OBJECTIVE: To study the AIDS related high risk behaviors and psychological appearances among men who have sex with men (MSM) who ever experienced childhood sexual abuse (CSA). METHODS: Target sampling for a cross-sectional study was developed and valid anonymous questionnaires were adopted to compare the differences of high risk behaviors related to AIDS and psychological appearances between those with or without CSA experiences among 2147 MSM from nine cities. RESULTS: Compared to corresponding ones without CSA experience, CSA group had a significant larger numbers in the following events: total sexual partners, anal sex episodes with same sex, female sexual partners and anal sex in the previous six months, with the figures of median as 20.0, 10.0, 3.0, 3.0 respectively. In the previous year, 30.8% of them had ever participated in 'group sex', 19.2% ever exchanged money for sex, 36.7% bled while having sexual intercourse, 37.3% had sex with male partners away from his own region. All the above said figures were higher than non-CSA group, with significant differences. It also appeared that CSA experience had an impact on significant lower rate of condom use (67.3%) in the last anal sex. Those with CSA experience had more psychological problems which appeared as: 75.6% considered they would suffer from serious discrimination if their sexual orientation ever disclosed, 34.7% had a strong intention of suicide and 24.3% ever having had suicidal attempts. The differences of the two groups showed statistical significance. CONCLUSION: CSA experience not only increased the number of AIDS related high risk behaviors in adulthood, but also had negative impact on their psychological appearances. It is of urgent need to carry out psychological intervention approaches to target on MSM with CSA experiences while childhood sexual education and rights assurance towards juvenile population should also not be neglected.

[Associations between partner-seeking activities through Internet and sexual risk behaviours related to HIV/AIDS among men who have sex with men in China].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the associations between partner-seeking activities through internet and HIV/AIDS related risk behaviours among men who have sex with men (MSM). METHODS: Target sampling, anonymous questionnaires were adopted and analyzed with SPSS 11.0. RESULTS: Data from 45.6% of the 2178 valid questionnaires showed that most partner-seeking activities was through internet. 73.1% of them landed on gay website, in which 83.0% looked for sexual partners and 91.7% of them had intercourse with other men met through internet when compared with MSM who did not seek sex activities through internet. The internet group obviously had fewer numbers of partners (5.73 vs. 10.3), oral sex partners (5.13 vs. 8.71), passive anus sex partners (4.67 vs. 8.26) and active anus sex partners (3.51 vs. 6.06) in the past 6 months (P < 0.01 respectively) and obviously had fewer group sex (16.7% vs. 20.5%) activities in the past one year but had more activities on oral sex (94.7% vs. 89.6%), anus sex (95.1% vs. 86.5%), regular sexual partner (52.6% vs. 46.7%) in the past 6 months (83.4% vs. 75.5%) (P < 0.01 respectively) and more likely to have finger intercourse (52.2% vs. 38.5%), hemorrhage sexual intercourse (36.4% vs. 21.9%, OR = 2.04), non-local sexual intercourse (28.1% vs. 22.7%) (P < 0.01 respectively). CONCLUSION: Seeking sexual partners through internet had positive and double effects on MSM's risk behaviours, suggesting that it is of urgent need to take the advance of internet and gay website to disseminate HIV/AIDS prevention message.

MSM and HIV/AIDS in China.

This article profiles current status of spread and control of HIV/AIDS in China. China has a significant population of MSM (men who have sex with men) and they have been becoming very much alive in many ways since 1990s due to recent social changes. Some surveys indicate that great many of MSM are engaged in high-risk behaviors. In addition, majority of MSM have also experienced sexual encounters with women sometimes in their lives, which possibly contribute to spread of HIV to women. Some reports documented that HIV is becoming rampant among MSM since more than 1% of them are now infected. Political, cultural and custom elements could hinder intervention activities against HIV spread among MSM. Fortunately, many cities in China have seen that MSM were in cooperation with responsible institutions carrying out certain intervention measures. The general situation is promising. The authors forecast that the fast HIV spread among MSM of China could possibly be halted within several years when the authorities become more sensible to this issue, health service institutions offer unswerving efforts toward the MSM community and those who involve in MSM undertakes necessary responsibilities.