Characteristics of heterosexual behaviors and associated factors in men who have sex with men in Taizhou, Zhejiang, 2018

ObjectiveTo explore the characteristics of heterosexual behaviors and associated factors in men who have sex with men (MSM) in Taizhou of Zhejiang province, and provide references for further health education about AIDS in MSM.

MethodsQuestionnaire survey was carried out in MSM who had anal or oral homosexual behaviors from April to August in 2018 in Taizhou to obtain the information about their heterosexual behaviors in terms of demographic or sexual behavior characteristics and HIV, syphilis and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection rates. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out to explore associated factors of heterosexual behaviors in MSM.

ResultsA total of 400 MSM were included for analysis. Among them 45.0% (180/400) were married, 46.7% (187/400) thought they were bisexual in sex orientation, 32.8% (131/400) had heterosexual behaviors and 67.2% (269/400) had no heterosexual behaviors within six months. The infection rates of HIV, syphilis and HCV were 10.3% (41/400), 6.0% (24/400) and 0.8% (3/400), respectively. There were no significant differences in infection rates between MSM with heterosexual behaviors and MSM without heterosexual behaviors (all P＞0.05). In those who had both heterosexual behaviors and homosexual anal intercourses within six months, the rates of never using condom in each heterosexual activity and using no condom in the last heterosexual behavior were higher than those in homosexual anal intercourse behaviors (50.5% and 4.0%, 58.6% and 18.2%). The multivariate logistic regression analysis results showed that associated factors of heterosexual behaviors in MSM were being married and bisexual orientation.

ConclusionThe HIV infection rate was high in MSM in Taizhou. The condom use rate was lower in MSM who have heterosexual behaviors. MSM who were married and bisexual in sex orientation were more likely to have heterosexual behaviors. Intervention should be strengthened and safe sexual behavior using condom should be promoted in MSM who were married and bisexual in sex orientation