243515 Online sex-seeking and sexual risk behaviors among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Bo Wang, PhD , Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
Xiaoming Li , Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Bonita Stanton, MD , Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Yan Hong, PhD , Department of Social and Behavioral Health, Texas A&M School of Rural Public Health, College Station, TX
Chen Zhang , Department of Social and Behavioral Health, Texas A&M School of Rural Public Health, College Station, TX
Xiaoyi Fang, PhD , Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
Background and objective: The Internet has become increasingly popular as a means for seeking sexual partners. Few studies have examined the possible effects of online sex-seeking on HIV/STI risk among MSM and yielded inconsistent results. This study examines HIV/STI related sexual risk behaviors of MSM who used the Internet to look for sex partners compared to MSM who did not.

Methods: A community sample of 307 migrant MSM 18-29 years of age was recruited in Beijing, China. Self-administered survey was conducted to collect information on demographics, sexual and other risk behaviors. Blood specimens were collected to test for HIV and syphilis infections. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed.

Results: Two-thirds of the MSM had used the internet to find a partner in the past six months. Nearly half had sex with online partner(s) when they met face to face for the first time. MSM who found partners online were more likely to have more than 10 male sexual partners in the past year, and to engage in commercial sex with men and women. MSM who found partners online were less likely to use condoms with their regular partners and were more likely to be infected with HIV (OR=5.01, 95%CI: 1.67-23.52).

Conclusions: A large percentage of MSM used the Internet to look for sex partners, and online sex-seeking is associated with sexual risk behavior and HIV infection. Future research is needed to determine the feasibility and efficacy of using Internet as a venue for HIV risk reduction among MSM in China.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1) Describe patterns of sex-seeking behavior and sexual risk behaviors among migrant MSM in Beijing, China. 2) Explain the relationships between online sex-seeking and sexual risk behaviors and HIV/syphilis infections among migrant MSM in Beijing, China.

Keywords: HIV Risk Behavior, Gay Men

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been conducting HIV prevention research for nearly ten years and am fully involved in this analysis.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Novel Approaches to HIV/AIDS Research
See more of: HIV/AIDS