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HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men in China has increased dramatically, and timely linkage to care after being diagnosed with HIV is important to treatment success. This cross‐sectional study aims to utilize structural equation modeling to test a hypothesized model of timely linkage to care adapted from the HIV‐related stigma framework. Data were collected from 257 men who have sex with men living with HIV. The proportion of participants with timely linkage to care within 1 month was 63.42%. The model result showed a good fit. Higher HIV‐related stigma was significantly associated with a lower level of social support, mental health, maladaptive coping (three mechanism variables), and attitude toward linkage to care. Higher CD4+ T‐cell count, disclosure of HIV positivity to sexual partners, and greater convenience of accessing care were related to timely linkage to care (p < 0.05). These model results suggest that enhancing attention to family reactions and social support are needed for further research and interventions to accelerate newly diagnosed people's access to HIV care in China. [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]

China is experiencing an emerging HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM). Minority stress theory posits that marginalized populations experience additional stress, which influences experiences of psychological distress and health outcomes. This study aimed to understand psychological distress of MSM relative to men who have sex with women (MSW) in an urban Chinese setting. Cross-sectional survey data were collected from 162 HIV-positive Chinese men receiving HIV treatment at Beijing's Ditan Hospital. Multiple linear regression with imputation was used to identify correlates of psychological distress. Relative to MSW, MSM were younger, more educated, and less likely to be in a relationship or have children. While both groups reported clinically elevated levels of depression and anxiety, sexual behavior was not associated with either outcome. Higher endorsement of depression symptomology was associated with worse reported physical health (β = −1.37, p <.05) and greater endorsement of maladaptive coping (β = 2.39, p <.05), whereas higher endorsement of anxiety symptomology was associated with greater endorsement of adaptive coping (β = 0.78, p <.05), diminished physical health (β = −0.86, p <.05), and a high school or greater level of education (β = 4.13, p <.05). These findings suggest that interventions targeting coping strategies may address psychological distress among HIV-positive Chinese men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HIV-positive men who have sex with men (HIVMSM) face severe stigma and high levels of stressors, and have high prevalence of mental health problems (e.g., depression and anxiety). Very few studies explored the role of positive psychological factors on mental health problems among HIVMSM. The present study investigated the prevalence of two mental health problems (anxiety and depression), and their associated protective (gratitude) and risk (enacted HIV-related stigma, and perceived stress) factors among HIVMSM in China. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 321 HIVMSM in Chengdu, China, by using a structured questionnaire. Over half (55.8%) of the participants showed probable mild to severe depression (as assessed by the Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale); 53.3% showed probable anxiety (as assessed by the General Anxiety Disorder scale). Adjusted logistic regression models revealed that gratitude (adjusted odds ratio (ORa = 0.90, 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) = 0.86–0.94) was found to be protective, whilst perceived stress (ORa = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.12–1.22) and enacted stigma (ORa = 7.72, 95% CI = 2.27–26.25) were risk factors of depression. Gratitude (ORa = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.91–0.99) was also found to be protective whilst perceived stress (ORa = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.14–1.24) was a risk factor of anxiety. Gratitude did not moderate the associations found between related factors and poor mental health. It is warranted to promote mental health among HIVMSM, as depression/anxiety was highly prevalent. Such interventions should consider enhancement of gratitude, reduction of stress, and removal of enacted stigma as potential strategies, as such factors were significantly associated with depression/anxiety among HIVMSM. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]