HIV associated factors among men who have sex with men in Maanshan, China: a cross-sectional study

Background: This study conducted a survey of men who have sex with men (MSM) in Maanshan City of Anhui Province to assess the risk behaviors related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.. Methods: : A cross-sectional survey was conducted from June 2016 to June 2019. The MSM were recruited by a peer-driven sampling method. A face-to-face interview with anonymous questionnaire were used for data collection. The information collected by the survey was summarized and epidemiology described the basic characteristics of MSM, and then the related factors were statistically analyzed. Results: : A total of 934 MSM were recruited with a mean age was 30.5 (SD=8.90) years old, including 816 (87.4%) HIV negative participants and 118 (12.6%) HIV positive ones. This study showed that laborer, freelancer, scope of sexual partners distribution, number of MSM friends, role of anal sex with men was receptive and versatile and non-steady sex partners were risk factors for HIV infection, while monthly income, frequency of condom use and number of oral sex partners in the past 6 months were protective factors for HIV infection. Conclusion: Risk behaviors were common in MSM, and urgent need for targeted and comprehensive interventions to reduce risky sexual behaviour and to prevent HIV infection in MSM.