OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of a community-based intervention project among men who have sex with men (MSM) after two-year implementation.

METHODSComprehensive interventions among MSM in 18 cities of seven provinces were conducted. The pre-intervention questionnaire was conducted in September 2006 and 5178 subjects were investigated through snowball method. In May 2007, post-questionnaire was conducted and 5460 subjects were investigated through snowball or accompanied recommendation method. For each subject, a questionnaire was completed, including basic information, HIV/AIDS knowledge, behaviours and intervention status. At the same time, 5 ml intravenous blood sample was collected to detect HIV infection and evaluated the intervention effect.

RESULTSAfter two-year implementation, the awareness rate of HIV/AIDS knowledge increased from 76.0% (3933/5178) in 2006 to 90.5% (4943/5460) in 2008 (chi(2) = 451.786, P < 0.001); the rate of condom use in the last anal sex with males increased from 58.0% (2382/4105) to 76.7% (3643/4750) (chi(2) = 215.491, P < 0.01); the rate of consistent condom use in the last six months increased from 28.2% (1163/4118) to 44.5% (2114/4753) (chi(2) = 264.606, P < 0.01); the proportion of MSM receiving HIV antibody test increased from 18.8% (973/5170) to 39.1% (2136/5454) (chi(2) = 530.181, P < 0.01); and the HIV infection rate increased from 2.3% (118/5178) to 5.0% (271/5427) (chi(2) = 47.613, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe MSM community-based intervention project achieved some good results after two-year implementation and contributed to an increase in HIV/AIDS knowledge and safe sex.