Prevalence of and disparities in HIV-related sexual risk behaviours among Chinese youth in relation to sexual orientation: a cross-sectional study

Self-identified sexual orientations and high-risk sexual behaviours among Chinese youth

PURPOSE

High-risk sexual behaviour is a factor affecting the health of sexual minority students, yet few related studies have been completed among Chinese students. This article explores the distribution of sexual minority groups and its association with high-risk sexual behaviours and symptoms of sexually transmitted infections(STIs) among Chinese college students.

METHODS

An internet-based questionnaire was applied, and a sample of 17 966 surveys from 130 Chinese colleges was collected. Based on their self-reports, participants were classified into the following groups: homosexual male or female, heterosexual, bisexual, and sexual orientation unknown. High-risk sexual behaviours were defined as having sexual intercourse before the age of 18 years, having one's sexual debut with a non-regular partner, having had more than four sexual partners before investigation, and having mostly had sexual intercourse without using condoms. Logistic regression models were constructed to analyse the associations.

RESULTS

The proportions of the homosexual males and females, and the bisexual groups were 1.62%, 0.88% and 5.07%, respectively. Homosexual males were more likely to have their sexual debut with a non-regular partner (OR 4.79, 95% CI 3.38 to 6.78), having more than four sexual partners (OR 5.81, 95% CI 4.06 to 8.32), having their sexual debut before the age of 18 years (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.34 to 2.76), and not using condoms for most episodes of sexual intercourse (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.17). Similar associations also existed among homosexual females. A positive association between sexual orientation and having symptoms of STIs (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.18) was found among homosexual males.

CONCLUSIONS

Sexual minority groups among Chinese college students had a greater risk of engaging in high-risk sexual behaviours and having STI symptoms. Future studies and interventions should focus on this population.

Association Between Childhood and Adolescent Sexual Abuse Experiences and High-Risk Sexual Behaviors Among Chinese Youth

Introduction

Adolescents are at high risk for negative health outcomes associated with high-risk sexual behaviors (HRSBs), and researchers have attempted to identify factors that influence such behavior so that meaningful prevention and intervention programs may be developed.

Aim

To investigate the associations between CSA experience and HRSBs in Chinese youth aged 15-24 years old.

Methods

Data were from the Survey of Youth Access to Reproductive Health in China, a national sample survey conducted in 2009. The following behaviors were classified as HRSBs: condom non-use during the first sexual experience, having sex with multiple partners, taking part in casual sex, engaging in commercial sex, taking part in anal sex, and condom non-use during the most recent sexual encounter. Differences in HRSBs between the sexes were examined. The χ² test and binary logistic regression were used to estimate the association between CSA experience and HRSBs.

Main Outcome Measure

The sexual behaviors of condom non-use during the first sexual experience, sexual activity with multiple partners, taking part in casual sex, engaging in commercial sex (defined as paying or receiving money/gifts in exchange for sex), taking part in anal sex, and condom non-using during the most recent sexual intercourse were classified as HRSBs.

Results

4,974 Sexually active youth were included in this study, 150 respondents (3.0%) reported CSA experience, and 3,950 (79.4%) sexually active youth had engaged in at least 1 type of HRSBs. The odds of having sex with multiple partners (odds ratio [OR] 4.31, 95% CI 3.07–6.07), casual sex (OR 3.65, 95% CI 2.55–5.24), commercial sex (OR 7.43, 95% CI 5.13–10.77), anal copulation (OR 2.54, 95% CI 1.57–4.12), or any of these HRSBs (OR 5.02, 95% CI 2.33–10.80) were significantly higher among those who had experienced CSA. There was a gender-specific difference in the associations of CSA with different types of HRSBs.

Conclusion

Sexual abuse experience in childhood is highly correlated with HRSBs among Chinese youth, and the pattern of this association differs between males and females. Public knowledge and social assistance systems needs to be improved for children and youth in China. Gender-specific counter-measures may be more efficient for interventions.

Ding R, Wen X, He P, et al. Association Between Childhood and Adolescent Sexual Abuse Experiences and High-Risk Sexual Behaviors Among Chinese Youth. Sex Med 2018;6:273–281.

The Relationship Between Psychological Temporal Perspective and HIV/STI Risk Behaviors Among Male Sex Workers in Mexico City

Men who have sex with men (MSM) face a disproportionate burden of HIV incidence and HIV prevalence, particularly young men who have sex with men. The aim of this article was to analyze the relation between a psychological temporal perspective and HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) risk behaviors among male sex workers (MSWs), a potentially highly present-oriented group of MSM. A total sample of 326 MSWs were included and responded to a validated psychological scale: the Zimbardo's Time Perspective Inventory; they also reported how frequently they engaged in protective behaviors against HIV and other STI risks behaviors, including condom use with casual and regular partners, as well as prior HIV testing. We adjusted structural equation models to analyze the relation between a psychological temporal perspective and HIV/STI risk behaviors. We found that orientation toward the past was correlated with decreased condom use with casual partners (β = - 0.18; CI_95% - 0.23, - 0.12). Future orientation was not associated with condom use with casual partners. Regarding condom use with regular partners, past and present orientation were related to lower likelihood of condom use (β = - 0.23; CI_95% - 0.29, - 0.17; β = - 0.11; CI_95% - 0.19, - 0.02), whereas future orientation increased the likelihood of condom use with regular partners (β = 0.40; CI_95% 0.31, 0.50). Time orientation (past, present, or future) did not predict the probability of having an HIV test. The design of HIV/STI prevention programs among vulnerable populations, such as MSM and MSWs, should consider specific time-frame mechanisms that can importantly affect sexual risk behavior decisions.