Correlates of recent HIV infection among men who have sex with men recruited through the internet in Huzhou City, Eastern China

Objective To identify factors associated with recent HIV infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Huzhou City, Eastern China, who seek sexual partners via the internet. Methods Adult members of Tencent QQ instant messaging software, who completed a face-to-face interview questionnaire and serological HIV testing at baseline, were enrolled into this prospective cohort study. Questionnaires and serological testing were also completed at 6 and 12 months. Cox proportional hazards was used for initial bivariate analyses of differences between participants with or without recent HIV infection, and for subsequent forward stepwise multiple regression of statistically significant variables. Results Out of 415 baseline participants, 283 completed the 12-month follow-up (25 with recent HIV infection and 258 without; recent HIV infection rate, 8.20 per 100 person-years). Recent HIV infection was shown to be significantly associated with ≤ high school education (versus college/university), registered residence outside Huzhou City (versus within Huzhou City), having ≥ two male sexual partners, and syphilis infection. Conclusions Improving education levels, treating syphilis promptly, and reducing the number of male sexual partners may reduce HIV transmission among MSM in Eastern China.

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Incidence and correlates of HIV and syphilis in a prospective cohort of men who have sex with men in Mianyang, China, over a 36-month period

Sexual Health ◽

10.1071/sh14243 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 546 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Yi Wang ◽

Yuling Huang ◽

Huailiang Chen ◽

Liulin Li ◽

Jie Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Transmitted Disease ◽

Peer Education ◽

Sexual Partners ◽

Incidence Density ◽

Snowball Sampling ◽

Syphilis Infection ◽

The Past ◽

Male Sexual Partners ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Hiv Aids

Background Estimates for the HIV/AIDS epidemic from the China Ministry of Health show that the epidemic is spreading rapidly among men who have sex with men (MSM). Methods: Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) was adapted in 2009 and snowball sampling was adapted to supplement the number of participants in 2010 and 2011. Interviewer-administered questionnaires and blood tests were conducted to confirm enrolment eligibility of participants. Results: A total of 725 HIV-negative participants were included into the cohort study. The cohort had a HIV incidence density of 5.6 (95% CI: 3.9–7.3)/100 person-years (PY) and a syphilis incidence density of 5.6 (95% CI:3.7–7.6)/100 PY. Age ≤20 years (21–25 years, hazard ratio (HR) = 0.32, 95%CI: 0.11–0.95/ ≥ 26 years, HR = 0.17, 95%CI: 0.05–0.66), having not participated in peer education in the past year (HR = 2.96, 95%CI: 1.19–7.35), seeking male sexual partners in a public washroom/park (HR = 3.61, 95%CI: 1.03–12.47), being currently infected with syphilis (HR = 3.21, 95%CI: 1.31–7.91), having sex partners aged ≥30 years (HR = 3.40, 95%CI: 1.11–10.39) and having more than four male sexual partners within the past 6 months (HR = 3.34, 95%CI: 1.24–9.04) were found to be risk factors for HIV seroconversion (each P < 0.05). Being married (HR = 2.38, 95%CI: 1.04–5.46), having not participated in peer education in the past year (HR = 2.28, 95%CI: 1.08–4.82), having limited HIV/AIDS knowledge (HR = 4.28, 95%CI: 1.94–9.43) and having a sexually transmitted disease infection in the past 6 months (HR = 4.74, 95%CI: 1.83–12.30) were identified as factors for syphilis infection (each P < 0.05). Conclusion: The incidence rates of HIV and syphilis in Mianyang City reamained high in the cohort of MSM for 36 months. Increased attention should be given to this serious epidemic, and appropriate interventions should be implemented to address MSM-specific issues in order to prevent HIV and syphilis infection in China.

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Transactional sex among men who have sex with men participating in the CohMSM prospective cohort study in West Africa

10.1101/630517 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Cheick Haïballa Kounta ◽

Luis Sagaon-Teyssier ◽

Pierre-Julien Coulaud ◽

Marion Mora ◽

Gwenaelle Maradan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Hiv Infection ◽

Risk Reduction ◽

Prospective Cohort ◽

Sexual Partners ◽

Anal Sex ◽

Male Sexual Partners ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Hiv Negative

AbstractMen who have sex with men (MSM) are at much greater risk of HIV infection in Africa. Little is known about their involvement in transactional sex (TS). We aimed to characterize MSM reporting TS (MSM-TS) and to identify factors associated with their sexual practices using data from the prospective cohort study CohMSM conducted in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Togo. Our study focused on HIV-negative MSM, recruited between 06/2015 and 01/2018 by a team of trained peer educators. Scheduled study visits at 6, 12 and 18 months included medical examinations, HIV screening, risk-reduction counselling and face-to-face interviews to collect information on their sociodemographic characteristics, sexual behaviours, and HIV risk-reduction strategies. Three stigmatization sub-scores were constructed. The generalized estimating equation method was used for data analysis. Of the 630 HIV-negative participants recruited at baseline, 463, 410 and 244 had a follow-up visit at 6- and 12- and 18-months, respectively. Over a total of 1747 visits, 478 TS encounters were reported by 289 MSM-TS (45.9%). Of the latter, 91 participants reported systematic TS (31.5%), 55 (19.0 %) stopped reporting TS after baseline, and 53 (18.3%) reported TS after baseline. Ninety participants (31.1 %) reported occasional TS. After adjusting for country of study and follow-up visits, the following factors, reported for the previous 6 months, were associated with a greater likelihood of TS: younger age, an educational level <high-school diploma, satisfaction with current sex life, group sex with men, multiple male sexual partners, condomless anal sex, receptive or versatile anal sex with male sexual partners, giving benefits in exchange for sex with a man, alcohol consumption and drug use during sex, and experiencing stigmatization. The majority of MSM in this study who received benefits in exchange for sex had high-risk HIV infection exposure practices and were characterized by socioeconomic difficulties.

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Use of multiple recreational drugs is associated with new HIV infections among men who have sex with men in China: a multicenter cross-sectional survey

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-10223-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Xiang Mao ◽

Sequoia I. Leuba ◽

Qinghai Hu ◽

Hongjing Yan ◽

Zhe Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Hiv Infection ◽

Risk Behaviors ◽

Sexual Behaviors ◽

Hiv Infections ◽

Recreational Drugs ◽

Limited Information ◽

High Risk Behaviors ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Recent Hiv Infection

Abstract Background There is limited information about the types of recreational drugs used by men who have sex with men (MSM) in China or the consequent impact on sexual health and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition. Methods We recruited MSM from seven cities in China between 2012 and 2013 using multiple approaches including advertisements on gay websites, collaborating with local MSM community-based organizations, peer referrals, and venues such as gay bars and bathrooms visited by MSM. We divided participants into four subgroups based on the number of recreational drugs (RDs) used in the previous 6 months. We defined use of multiple RDs as use of ≥2 types of RDs. Demographics and HIV-related high-risk behaviors were collected, and blood samples were tested for recent HIV infection by the HIV-1 subtypes B, E, and D immunoglobulin G capture enzyme immunoassay (BED-CEIA). We used multivariable logistic regression adjusted for sociodemographics to determine the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the subgroups of RD use for recent or established HIV infection. Results A total of 4496 Chinese MSM participated; 28.4% used RDs, and 5% used multiple types of RDs. The prevalence of each RD use was as follows: poppers (25.9%), ecstasy (2.4%), ketamine (1.2%), amphetamine (0.6%), tramadol (0.4%), methamphetamine (3.8%), and codeine (1.9%). Users of multiple RDs commonly used poppers combined with one or more other types of RDs. Multiple RD users were likely to be aged 26–30 years (vs. 18–25 and > 30 years), live in non-local cities (vs. local cities), never married (vs. married), have a high monthly income (vs. no income and 1–599 USD), use versatile positions during anal intercourse (vs. top or bottom), and have inadequate HIV-related prevention knowledge (vs. adequate). As the number of RDs used in the previous 6 months increased, the prevalence of HIV-related high-risk behaviors increased (P < 0.05 for all). The odds of recent HIV infection were higher among those who used one type (aOR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.5–3.0) or two types of RD (aOR=2.3, 95% CI: 1.0-5.2) in the previous 6 months compared to the odds among those who did not use RDs. Conclusion The level and pattern of multiple RD use among Chinese MSM were different from high-income countries. MSM who used more RDs are more likely to engage in high-risk sexual behaviors, and these behaviors may be associated with increases in new HIV infections.

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Men who have sex with men in China have relatively low numbers of sexual partners

Infectious Disease Reports ◽

10.4081/idr.2011.e10 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 10 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Lei Zhang ◽

Eric Pui Fung Chow ◽

David P. Wilson

Keyword(s):

Median Number ◽

Sexual Partners ◽

Hiv Prevalence ◽

Comprehensive Review ◽

The Past ◽

Male Sexual Partners ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Over Time

HIV prevalence is increasing rapidly among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China and potentially associated with the number of male sexual partners that each man has on average. This study estimates the distribution of the number of male sexual partners among Chinese MSM through a comprehensive review of English and Chinese published literature. The overall median number of male sexual partners of Chinese MSM in the past 6 months China was estimated to be 1.5 (95% CI, 1.1-1.9) and 3.8 (95% CI 1.5-6.9) sexual partners in the past 6-month and 12-month periods respectively. An estimated 31% of sexual partners of MSM in China are regular partners, 54% are casual partners, and 16% are commercial partners. The reported numbers of sexual partners has not changed over time during the past decade. The numbers of male sexual partners reported by Chinese MSM is consistently lower than other settings and may not be sufficient to explain the recent rapid increase in HIV prevalence.

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Unprotected Anal Intercourse and Substance Use Among Men Who Have Sex With Men With Recent HIV Infection

JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes ◽

10.1097/01.qai.0000230530.02212.86 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 43 (3) ◽

pp. 344-350 ◽

Cited By ~ 75

Author(s):

Lydia N Drumright ◽

Susan J Little ◽

Steffanie A Strathdee ◽

Donald J Slymen ◽

Maria Rosario G Araneta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Hiv Infection ◽

Anal Intercourse ◽

Unprotected Anal Intercourse ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Recent Hiv Infection

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Sexual network characteristics of men who have sex with men with syphilis and/or gonorrhoea/chlamydia in Lima, Peru: network patterns as roadmaps for STI prevention interventions

Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽

10.1136/sextrans-2018-053865 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 95 (5) ◽

pp. 336-341

Author(s):

Cherie Blair ◽

Ryan Colby Passaro ◽

Eddy R Segura ◽

Jordan E Lake ◽

Amaya G Perez-Brumer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Network Size ◽

Sexual Partners ◽

Sexual Network ◽

Syphilis Infection ◽

Screening Process ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sti Prevention ◽

Network Characteristics ◽

Condomless Anal Intercourse ◽

Sex With Men

ObjectiveWhile men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by Peru’s overlapping HIV and STI epidemics, there are few data on how partnership-level and network-level factors affect STI transmission in Peru. We explored partnership-level and network-level factors associated with gonorrhoea/chlamydia (Neisseria gonorrhoeae and/or Chlamydia trachomatis (NG/CT)) and/or syphilis infection among MSM in Peru.MethodsWe present the results of a cross-sectional secondary analysis of MSM (n=898) tested for syphilis and NG/CT infection as part of the screening process for two STI control trials in Lima, Peru. Participants completed questionnaires on demographics, sexual identity and role, characteristics of their three most recent sexual partners (partner sexual orientation, gender, role, partnership type, partner-specific sexual acts) and 30-day sexual network characteristics (number of sexual partners, partnership types, frequency of anal/vaginal intercourse). Participants were tested for syphilis and urethral, rectal and oropharyngeal NG/CT. Differences in network characteristics were analysed with χ2 and Kruskal-Wallis tests.ResultsApproximately 38.9% of participants had a new STI diagnosis (syphilis (rapid plasma reagin ≥16): 10.6%; NG/CT: 22.9%; syphilis-NG/CT coinfection: 5.4%). Condomless anal intercourse (CAI) was not significantly associated with an STI diagnosis. Gay-identified participants with exclusively homosexual networks had a higher prevalence of STIs (47.4%) than gay-identified MSM with only heterosexual/bisexual partners (34.6%, p=0.04), despite reporting fewer sexual partners (any partners: 2, 1–4 vs 3, 2–6; p=0.001; casual partners: 1, 0–3 vs 2, 1–4; p=0.001) and more stable partnerships (1, 0–1 vs 0, 0–1; p=0.003) in the last month.ConclusionsNetwork size and the number of casual sexual partners were associated with NG/CT infection among MSM in Peru. Despite reporting fewer sexual risk behaviours (smaller network size, more stable partnerships, less CAI), MSM with homosexual-only sexual networks had a higher prevalence of NG/CT and syphilis. These findings suggest network composition among MSM in Peru plays an important role in the risk for STI acquisition.

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Clinical factors associated with syphilis concordance in men in sexual partnerships: a cross-sectional couples study

Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽

10.1136/sextrans-2017-053297 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 94 (8) ◽

pp. 571-573 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Janet M Towns ◽

Sarah Huffam ◽

Eric P F Chow ◽

Ian Denham ◽

Lei Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Centre ◽

Secondary Syphilis ◽

Sexual Partners ◽

Concordance Rate ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Clinical Factors ◽

Syphilis Infection ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Early Syphilis ◽

Male Sexual Partners

BackgroundSyphilis infections continue to increase among men who have sex with men (MSM) in many countries, with rates often higher among HIV-positive MSM. There is limited understanding of the risk and determinants of syphilis transmission between men. We aimed to examine the concordance of early syphilis infection between male sexual partners and clinical factors associated with transmission.MethodsMen attending Melbourne Sexual Health Centre with their male partners, where at least one was diagnosed with early syphilis, were identified from linkage of partner records between March 2011 and April 2016. Early latent syphilis was defined as a new asymptomatic syphilis presentation of less than 2 years’ duration. Associations between concordance and potential risk factors were examined using Fisher’s exact test.ResultsAmong 43 couples (86 men) identified, there were 13 couples (26 men) where both were diagnosed with early syphilis, representing a concordance rate of 30.2% (95% CI 17.2% to 46.1%). Among the 13 concordant couples, 5 men had primary syphilis (4 penile, 1 anal), 11 secondary syphilis (8 generalised rash, 3 penile, 2 anal, 1 oral lesion) and 10 early latent infections. Concordance was higher among couples where at least one partner had secondary syphilis compared with couples where neither partner had secondary syphilis (53% (9/17) vs 15% (4/26), P=0.016). Furthermore, concordance was higher among couples where one was HIV positive compared with couples where both were HIV negative (62% (5/8) vs 23% (8/35), P=0.042).ConclusionsThere was an overall concordance rate of 30%. Higher concordance rates for early syphilis infection between male sexual partners were associated with HIV and secondary syphilis.

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Use of the Internet for sex partnership in men who have sex with men before HIV infection

Public Health ◽

10.1016/j.puhe.2011.03.010 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 125 (7) ◽

pp. 433-435 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

S.S. Lee ◽

Dennise K.P. Tam ◽

Darwin W.L. Mak ◽

K.H. Wong

Keyword(s):

Hiv Infection ◽

The Internet ◽

Use Of The Internet ◽

Sex With Men

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Internet-Based Sex-Seeking Behavior Promotes HIV Infection Risk: A 6-Year Serial Cross-Sectional Survey to MSM in Shenyang, China

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2016/2860346 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Shi Pan ◽

Jun-Jie Xu ◽

Xiao-Xu Han ◽

Jing Zhang ◽

Qing-Hai Hu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hiv Infection ◽

Multivariable Analysis ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Hiv Prevalence ◽

The Internet ◽

Transmitted Drug Resistance ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Seeking Behavior ◽

Sex With Men

HIV prevalence is still rapidly increasing among Chinese men who have sex with men (MSM). The Internet also makes it easier for MSM to have casual partners. This study aims to evaluate the trend of Internet-based sex-seeking behavior of MSM and its impact on HIV prevalence, the distribution of HIV subtype strains, and transmitted drug resistance rates. A serial cross-sectional study was conducted from 2009 to 2014. Of the 1,981 MSM, 50.5% (1,000/1,981) mainly sought homosexual partners through the Internet (Internet-based MSM, IBM). The proportion of IBM among total MSM subjects increased from 43.3% to 61.5% (p<0.001). HIV prevalence of IBM increased from 5.7% to 20.7%, while that of non-Internet-based MSM (NIBM) increased from 7.0% to 14.7%. A relative higher proportion of NIBM were infected with HIV CRF01_AE subtype than IBM (79.5% versus 72.2%, p=0.52). Multivariable analysis found IBM had a significantly higher HIV prevalence than NIBM (13.2% versus 10.5%, aOR = 1.4, 95% CI [1.0–1.9]). Being a migrant non-Shenyang resident MSM (aOR = 1.9, 95% CI [1.3–2.9]) and occasionally/never using condoms with casual homosexual partners (aOR = 1.7, 95% CI [1.1–2.6]) were two distinct risk factors for HIV infection in IBM. More efforts should be targeted towards developing interventions aimed at IBM, particularly migrant MSM and who engage in UAI with casual homosexual partners.

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