[Survey on the high risk behaviors related to acquired immunologic deficiency syndrome and sexually transmitted diseases among men who have sex with men in mainland China].

OBJECTIVE

To understand the high risk behaviors related to acquired immunologic deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among men who have sex with men (MSM) in mainland China.

METHODS

A self-administrated anonymous mail survey was carried out in MSM throughout the mainland of China in 1999.

RESULTS

One thousand eight hundred questionnaires were mailed out and 729 effective questionnaires were collected. The response rate was 40.5%. The average age of subjects was 31 years old. Their average age at first sexual intercourse with a man was 18.6 years old. Average number of male sexual partners were 39.2 out of which 75.7% reported having had anus-intercourse. In the latest year, 63.6% reported ever having sex with strange men, 39.8% reported ever having group sex, 9.3% reported having sold sex and 3.8% having bought sex. 50% of them reported ever having sex with women. One hundred thirty-three reported having been diagnosed STD. Sixty-two reported having tested for HIV antibody and 11 were positive. Two-thirds reported ever using a condom when having sex.

CONCLUSION

High risk sexual behaviors were prevalent among MSM in mainland China with HIV infection rate already reaching a high level. Women having sex with MSM are at a greater risk of HIV infection.