OBJECTIVETo explore the pattern of transmission of human immunodeficiency virus through risky sexual behaviors (RSB) in floating workers coming from the countryside to the cities.

METHODSData were collected anonymously through a structured questionnaire survey in 1595 men from Hangzhou and Guangzhou cities, using a multi-stage sampling method. Data from both preliminary analyses and multivariate regression analysis would show the cumulative adoption of RSB over time and the identification of factors associated with the adoption in this population from the two areas.

RESULTS57.9% - 88.1% of the study samples with the pre-stage RSB (receiving shampoo, massage or leisure-seeking activities from "sexual workers") and 79.9% of those with commercial RSB were initiated during the period when they were working away from their home-towns. The highest adoption rate (15.2% - 26.8%) was happened in the third month after moving to the urban areas for pre-stage RSB, while the highest rate (14.4%) was noticed in the sixth month for the commercial ones. The transition interval between the two behaviors was around 3 months. The cumulative rate was peaked from 57.3% to 70.4% for pre-stage RSB and 48.9% for commercial RSB. The cumulative adoption curves showed that the robust increment was more pronounced in the pre-stage than in the commercial RSB. Most of the early adopters were married and holding higher hedonistic beliefs for the commercial RSB. Communication of sex information and behavioral adoption of RSB was associated with the perceived stress and hedonistic beliefs.

CONCLUSIONRSB epidemics seemed to be social and group phenomena, suggesting that related social strategies should be developed in order to control the RSB in this population.