Study On HIV High Risk Behaviors And Their Correlates Among Men Who Have Sex With Men In College Students Of Beijing

Objective To understand the AIDS-related knowledge,attitudes and behaviors,and prevalence of HIV/syphilis,and to analyze correlates of high risk sexual behaviors among men who have sex with men(MSM) in college students of Beijing.Method The study was designed using a cross-sectional survey with data collected by a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods.MSM in college students(MSMCS) were mainly recruited via the internet and part of them were from snowball sampling.Data included understanding of the homosexual orientation,AIDS-related knowledge,lifetime HIV testing and sexually Transmitted Diseases treatment,high risk sexual behaviors,and prevalence of HIV and syphilis.Serological screening test was conducted first,and then if positive confirmation test was done.For the qualitative analysis ideas were summarized according to the semi-structural interview questionnaire and for the quantitative analysis t-test andχ~2test were utilized for comparing means and rate,and non-conditional logistic regression for multi-factors analysis.Results Approximately one third of MSMCS often felt anxious and depressed due to their homosexual orientation,85%hid their homosexual orientation from their families,and less than 30%expressed they would definitely not get married in the future.MSMCS had a relatively high level of AIDS-related knowledge,however misunderstandings of several specific high risk sexual behaviors were found.Nearly 50%supposed themselves to be at little or no risk of contracting HIV,44.6%had ever tested HIV antibody and less than 60% knew that Center for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) provides free HIV voluntary counseling and testing(VCT) service.In the previous six months,approximately 60%of MSMCS had multiple sexual partners (more than 1 sexual partner) and only 36%consistently used condoms during anal intercourse. Nearly 80%had engaged in "419"(one night stand).Among those whose most recent male sex partner was unfamiliar,72.55%used condom.Drug use and "buying or selling sex" were not common,but group sex and intercourse after drinking were more frequent. Non-conditional logistic regression analysis found that those MSMCS who supposed that it is necessary to use condoms with fixed sex partner,or who frequently felt anxious due to their homosexual orientation or who used condoms during the first same-sex intercourse were less likely to engage in unprotected anal intercourse in the previous six months.Total 175 MSMCS completed serological testing.Thirteen MSMCS with the newly-infected syphilis,four HIV carders and two HIV/syphilis co-infections were found.The prevalence rate of the newly-infected syphilis,HIV and HIV/Syphilis co-infection was 7.43%,2.29%and 1.14%respectively.Conclusion HIV high risk sexual behaviors are common among MSMCS,despite their relatively high awareness of HIV/AIDS.HIV and the newly-infected syphilis were found in MSMCS,this suggests either the potential for a future HIV/STDs epidemic or that one is occurring now.It is necessary to conduct relevant interventions among MSMCS immediately.