Comparative study of routine and randomized response technique on risk sexual behaviors in male patients in sexually transmitted disease clinics

Objective To explore HIV-related risk behaviors, the prevalence of HIV infection, syphilis and hepatitis virus C infection in male patients in sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics with questionnaire survey and randomized response technique survey, and provide information and basis for comprehensive AIDS prevention and intervention. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among male patients in two STD clinics with questionnaire, and randomized response technique survey was performed to investigate risk behaviors. Venous blood samples were collected for the tests of HIV, syphilis and HCV antibodies. Results A total of 783 men were involved in our study. The proportion of the subjects who had commercial heterosexual, temporary heterosexual and homosexual behaviors in the past three months were 48.8%, 22.2% and 15.3% respectively. Only 0.3% of them were injecting drugs users. The prevalence of the above 4 behaviors indicated by the questionnaire survey were lower than that by randomized response technique survey, but only the difference in prevalence of temporary heterosexual behavior was significant (U=2.392, P0.05). In clinic A, the prevalence of homosexual behavior by questionnaire survey was higher than that by randomized response technique survey. In clinic B, the prevalence of commercial heterosexual and homosexual behavior by questionnaire survey was lower than that by randomized response technique survey. The positive rate of HIV, syphilis and HCV antibodies were 6.8%, 7.5% and 0.4% respectively. Conclusion The results of the randomized response technique survey might closely reflect the real situation of risk sexual behaviors among male STD clinic patients, the prevalence of risk sexual behaviors might be less estimated by questionnaire survey.