OBJECTIVETo investigate the status of HIV disclosure to primary partners and to explore the correlates of HIV disclosure among HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) in Guangzhou, Chongqing and Chengdu.

METHODSThis survey was conducted in Chengdu, Chongqing and Guangzhou by using "snowballing" sample from December, 2012 to May, 2013. Participants who were eighteen years old or elder, HIV-infected, had sex with men and lived in three cities when the survey was conducted were eligible for subjects of this survey. Primary partners and disclosure status of participants were investigated. Multiple Unconditioned Logistic Regression analysis was used to analyze the influence factors associated with HIV disclosure.Of 600 participants, 541 were excluded because of logical problem or incomplete items in questionnaire and the effective response rate was 90.2%.

RESULTSOf the 541 HIV-positive MSM participants, the mean age was (30.2 ± 7.7) years old, 78.2% (423/541) of the participants had male primary partners.Of the 423 participants who had male primary partner, 10.9% (46/423) had wife, 58.9% (249/423) had one primary partner, and 41.1% (174/423) had two or more. The proportion of HIV disclosure to all male primary sexual partners and wife was 41.8% (177/423) and 4.5% (19/423) respectively, 20.3% (86/423) of them disclosure to some of male primary partners and 37.8% (160/423) not disclosure to any male primary partners. Participants who had HIV-positive male partners in the past 6 months (accounting for 35.2% (149/423)) were more likely to disclose HIV infection to their primary sexual partners (70.5% (105/149)) than those who had non-HIV-positive sexual partners (26.3% (72/274)) (χ(2) = 77.46, P < 0.01). Participants who had male unknown HIV-status sexual partners in the past 6 months(accounting for 52.7% (223/423)) were less likely to disclosure HIV infection to primary sexual partners (22.4% (50/223) ) than those who had already known HIV-status sexual partners (63.5% (127/200)) (χ(2) = 73.11, P < 0.01). The possibility of HIV disclosure to primary sexual partner among participants who had HIV-positive sexual partner increase to 6.36 (3.75-10.80) times of those who had HIV -negative partners, and the possibility among participants who had sexual partners of unknown HIV status decreased to 0.44 (0.25-0.76) times of those who had sexual partners of already known HIV status. Compared with having non-anal sex behaviors with male primary partner, the possibility of HIV disclosure to primary sexual partner decreased to 0.46 (0.22-0.95) times among participants who had anal sex behavior with male primary partners.

CONCLUSIONThere were low proportion of HIV disclosure to primary sexual partners among HIV-infected MSM in Guangzhou, Chongqing and Chengdu.HIV disclosure to primary sexual partners may be associated with characteristics of their sexual partners, and participants who had HIV-positive male partners were more likely to disclose HIV infection to their primary sexual partners.

Adult ; China ; Cities ; Disclosure ; HIV Infections ; Homosexuality, Male ; Humans ; Male ; Sexual Behavior ; Sexual Partners

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the incidence of syphilis infection and to determine the risk factors related to syphilis infection among young men who had sex with men (YMSM), which were documented for developing effective intervention to prevent sexually transmitted diseases among YMSM.

METHODSA cohort study was conducted in 8 cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Kunming,Guiyang, Chongqing, Chengdu, Urumqi and Nanning) from May to December, 2009. A total of 1 037 syphilis-negative YMSM aged 18-25 were enrolled in the cohort and the two follow-up surveys were carried out every six months. The contents of study included sociodemographic characteristics, HIV-related knowledge, sexual behavior and condom use in the 6 months prior to survey. All participants were tested for syphilis with whole blood specimens. Chi-square test was used to compare demographic characteristics of participants in baseline with those of two follow-up, and Cox regression analysis was used to identify risk factors associated with syphilis infection.

RESULTSThe rates of participants in 6, 12 months follow-up surveys was 79.85% (828/1 037) and 82.16% (852/1 037) respectively.39 syphilis seroconversions were found in the 12 months follow-up survey. Cumulative observed person-years during follow-up time was 1 106.67. The syphilis incidence rate was 3.5%. The Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the education of senior high school (senior high school vs some college or higher, RR = 2.19, 95% CI:1.21-3.98), bisexual orientation (bisexual orientation vs homosexual orientation, RR = 2.19, 95% CI:1.21-3.97), score of HIV/AIDS knowledge <8 (score of HIV/AIDS knowledge <8 vs knowledge = 8, RR = 2.39, 95%CI:1.35-4.21), had two and more sexual partners and inconsistent condom use in the past 6 months (inconsistent condom use vs consistent condom use, RR = 3.10, 95% CI:1.39-6.91) were significantly associated with syphilis seroconversion in the 12-month period.

CONCLUSIONSThe syphilis incidence was high and risk behaviors were common among YMSM of China.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Cohort Studies ; Homosexuality, Male ; Humans ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Risk-Taking ; Syphilis ; epidemiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the sexual transmission behaviors among HIV-positive MSM population engaging in unprotected sexual behaviors, as well as the relationship with health conditions and partner notification.

METHODSA total of 308 HIV-positive MSM participants engaged in unprotected sexual behaviors were recruited by "snowballing" sampling in Shanghai and Chengdu. The questionnaire covered such items as the time of HIV infection diagnosis, CD4⁺ T cells count, viral load, antiviral therapy, anxiety and depressive symptoms, sexual partner types and sexual behaviors in the past six months, disclosure to fixed sexual partners and casual sexual partners among others.

RESULTSOf the 308 participants surveyed, the report rate of those having at least one-time sexual transmission behaviors during the past 6 months was 70.1% (216/308). Participants who had primary sexual partners and casual sexual partners following their HIV infection diagnosis accounted for 89.0% (274/308) and 68.2% (210/308) respectively. Of the aforementioned participants, 59.1% (162/274) and 94.3% (198/210) respectively had not disclosed their HIV infection to primary and casual sexual partners. Of thoes who did not disclose their HIV infection to primary sexual partners, 91.9% (147/162) reported sexual transmission behaviors. Of thoes who did not disclose their HIV infection to casual sexual partners, 89.9% (178/198) continue sexual transmission. As found in a multi-factor analysis, the infection risk exposure of those with heterosexual sexual orientation and engagement in sexual transmission behaviors was six times higher than those with homosexual orientation (aOR = 5.896, 95% CI: 1.808-19.232). For those who did not, or partially disclose their HIV infection to male casual sexual partners or commercial sexual partners, the risk exposure of further transmission was 29 times and 19 times higher than those disclose it to their sexual partners (no disclosure: aOR = 28.957, 95% CI: 7.511-65.004; partial disclosure: aOR = 18.956, 95% CI: 6.995-57.417). The highest risk came from those who continue their sexual transmission behavior within six months of their HIV infection diagnosis; the lowest risk came from those continue such behavior more than one year and within two years of their diagnosis (aOR = 0.048, 95% CI: 0.033-0.788); such risk rose to some extent for those continue such behavior over two years of their diagnosis. Compared to those without antiviral therapy, participants with the therapy pose less risk in sexual transmission behaviors.

CONCLUSIONMore than two-thirds of HIV-positive MSM population who engage in unprotected sexual behaviors reported sexual transmission behaviors. In this regard, increasing antiviral therapy and promoting sexual partner disclosure constituted an effective strategy to minimize further transmission among HIV-positive MSM population. Intervention of sexual transmission behaviors should be addressed to those diagnosed of HIV infection within six months.

China ; HIV Infections ; transmission ; HIV Seropositivity ; Homosexuality ; Homosexuality, Male ; Humans ; Male ; Risk ; Risk-Taking ; Sexual Behavior ; Sexual Partners ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Viral Load