Search

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with adverse mental and physical outcomes among men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV. Few studies focus on psychological IPV, such as verbal threats. This study examined the associations between different forms of IPV and depression and CD4+ cell count, with depression as a mediator for the association between IPV and CD4+ cell count. Data for these analyses were derived from a larger cross-sectional study on HIV-HCV co-infection among MSM in Shanghai, China (N = 1623). We estimated the average causal mediation effects (ACME) and average direct effects (ADE) through three steps. About 16% of participants experienced IPV, with forced sex (7%), verbal threats (5%), and thrown objects (4%) being most common. Verbal threats showed the strongest link with depression and low CD4+ cell count. Depression fully mediated the relationship between verbal abuse and low CD4+ cell count, suggesting it as a potential pathway between psychological IPV and poorer HIV-related health outcomes. More research on psychological IPV is warranted to examine its health impacts. Mental health could be a potential focus of intervention to enhance HIV-related health outcomes among MSM with IPV experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent evidence shows that circumcision is associated with lower HIV prevalence among MSM. We assessed the acceptability of circumcision for preventing HIV and that of Shang Ring circumcision (SRC) among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. 538 adult MSM were recruited from six cities in China between January and March 2019. Participants were surveyed by an online, self-administered questionnaire. The acceptability of circumcision was assessed before and after the potential protective effect of circumcision against HIV was informed, and subsequently men's willingness to undergo SRC was assessed. The level of circumcision was 16.4%. Of 450 uncircumcised MSM, their willingness to be circumcised in the following six months increased significantly from 32.2% to 55.6% after the information session. Three quarters of men who were willing to undergo circumcision accepted SRC. MSM who perceived that circumcision could maintain genital hygiene were more likely to accept circumcision after the information session, whereas those who regarded circumcision as an embarrassing surgery were disinclined to be circumcised. The low circumcision rate, along with its high acceptability in Chinese MSM, suggests a great potential benefit of circumcision intervention if proved effective. SRC might be a popular circumcision procedure in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]