Study On The Risk Of HIV And Syphilis Infections In Men Who Have Sex With Men In Tianjin

Objective:To know the prevalences of HIV and syphilis infection in men who have sex with men (MSM) in Tianjin, to understand the characteristics of sexual behavior, AIDS awareness and condom use in MSM, to study the high-risk factors of HIV and syphilis infection, in order to provide scientific evidence for the development of the effective ways to control HIV and syphilis infection in MSM.Methods:A total of 1799 MSM persons were investigated by three rounds of cross-sectional survey in April-June 2008, September-November 2008 and April-June 2009. Imformatiom on AIDS awareness, sexual characteristics, condom use, past sexual history and so on. and 3-5ml venous blood specimens were collected. HIV antibody testing and syphilis screening test RPR and Western blot test were used.Results:(1) Among 1799 participants,133 participants were detected as HIV-positive, the positive rate was 7.4%; there are 269 participants were detected as RPR positive of syphilis, the positive rate was 15.0%. (2) The average age of 1799 participants was 28.7 years; their career patterns differ; participants with college and higher education accounted for 37.2%; 33.0% of participants were married; 39.5% of participants looked for sex partners through the bars, dance halls,.38.5% via the Internet,18.9% through the bath, sauna, foot massage, massage establishments,3.0% of participants in parks, public toilets, grass. (3) AIDS awareness rate was 80.8% on average. Television and Internet were the main way of accessing to AIDS knowledge. (4) Only 30.8% of participants had received HIV testing. (5) 58.3% of participants were considered by themselves as homosexual,5.7% as heterosexual,32.1% as bisexual; During the past six months, the average male partners number was 23.7±7.3.1371 participants (76.2%) used condoms in the recent anal sex with men, and 36.2% of participants used condom during the last six months. The first time of sexual behavior occurred at the ages of 12-40 years, average age was 19.5±2.6 years. (6) HIV positive rate was 7.4% and no significant difference in positive rates among age groups was found. The positive rate of syphilis RPR screening was 15% and there were the significant difference in positive rates among age groups, in which the highest positive rate was 22.9% in participants aged 45 years and older. Conclusions:The infection rates of HIV and syphilis are much higher in MSM population than in other groups. MSM population will undoubtedly become the important people of HIV and syphilis spreading, and, prevention of AIDS, syphilis and other sexually transmitted disease should focus on the crowd.