OBJECTIVETo study sexual behavioral characteristics, infection status of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STDs) among women who have sex with women (WSW) in Beijing.

METHODSA total of 150 WSWs were recruited by snowball sampling in several main types of activity sites of WSW (including NGOs, salons, bars, etc.) in Beijing during September 2010 to April 2011. Information on demographic factors, sexual behavioral characteristics, infection status of STDs, and use of medical care were collected by questionnaire investigation. Serum samples, vaginal and cervical swabs were taken for each subject to test HIV, hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), syphilis, herpes simplex virus (HSV), neisseria gonorrhoeae, chlamydia trachoma, bacterial vaginosis, trichomonas vaginalis and mycotic vaginitis.

RESULTSThe age range of the subjects was from 19 to 46 years old. Approximately 82.67% (124/150) of them aged 20 to 29 years old, and 54.00% (81/150) were unmarried. Approximately 76.67% (115/150) had an education level of college degree or above, and 70.67% (106/150) were migrants. Approximately 66.66% (100/150) of the subjects considered themselves as homosexual, 28.00% (42/150) as bisexual. The age at first homosexual sex ranged from 11 to 30 years old. The median of number of female sex partners in last 1 year was 1, and 33.78% (50/148) of the subjects had 2 or more female sex partners. Approximately 20.27% (30/148) of the subjects applied sex instruments, of which 66.67% (20/30) never or seldom used condoms. Hand-clitoris and hand-vagina contacts were the main types of woman-to-woman sex, accounting for 91.22% (135/148). 12.00% (18/150) of the subjects had sex with men during last year. Among them, 50.00% (9/18) used condoms at last heterosexual sex, and 66.67% (12/18) never or seldom used condoms at last heterosexual sex in past 1 year. One subject provided paid sex service for men, and used condoms every time. In the past one year, 45.33% (68/150) of the subjects had symptoms of STDs, but only 36.76% (25/68) of them sought medical care. The infection rate of STDs was 34.67% (52/150). The infection rates of NG and GV were both 16.11% (24/149), and those of mycotic vaginitis, chlamydia trachoma, and TV were 8.72% (13/149), 4.03% (6/149), and 0.67% (1/150), respectively. The numbers of subjects tested positive for HBV, HCV, and syphilis were all 1. No subjects were found HIV positive or HSV-2 positive.

CONCLUSIONMultiple sexual partners and heterosexual sex behavior were common among WSW in Beijing. More than 1/3 of the subjects were infected with STD.