Search

The study compared the level of physical activity (PA) between older people living with HIV (PLWH) and their HIV-negative counterparts in China and tested the mediational roles of self-compassion, attitudes toward aging, and perceived stress in the between-group difference in PA. From December 2017 to August 2018, face-to-face interviews were conducted among 337 and 363 HIV-positive and -negative people aged ≥ 50 in Yongzhou City, Hunan, China. Path analysis was performed. The proportions of low, moderate, and high levels of PA in the HIV-positive and -negative groups were 18.9% versus 6.7%, 43.1% versus 32.0%, and 38.0% versus 61.3%, respectively, yielding a statistically significant difference. The path analysis showed that older PLWH reported less self-compassion and positive attitudes toward aging, which was in turn associated with more perceived stress and ultimately associated with less PA. Chinese older PLWH were more sedentary than their HIV-negative counterparts. Future PA interventions may modify the mediators., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

This study examined the associations between minority stressors, poor mental health, and sexual risk behaviors, and whether there were interactive effects of minority stress and mental health factors in their associations with sexual risk behaviors in a sample of Chinese transgender women sex workers (TGSW). A cross-sectional study was conducted in 204 TGSW in Shenyang, China (mean age 33.4 years and 18.1% self-reported as HIV positive). We found a high prevalence of condomless anal intercourse (CAI) with male clients (27.9%) and CAI with male regular partners (49.5%) in the past three months among TGSW. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that discrimination, victimization, and life dissatisfaction were significantly associated with higher odds of CAI with male clients (AOR range: 1.05-1.42, all p < 0.05). Likewise, CAI with male regular partners was more frequently reported by participants who experienced higher levels of victimization, rejection, and anxiety (AOR range: 1.37-2.88, all p < 0.05). No significant interaction effects of gender minority stress and mental health on sexual behaviors were observed. Interventions addressing the multiple psychosocial risks are warranted to prevent behavioral risks of TGSW.

Poor mental health was prevalent among HIV positive men who have sex with men (HIVMSM), and a tremendous burden extents on their families and society. The present study investigated the prevalence of depression and its relationship with social support, HIV self-stigma, positive affect and negative affect among 321 HIVMSM in Chengdu, China. The study was conducted during July 2013 through October 2013. Findings showed that 55.8 % of the participants had mild to severe depression. The results of structural equation modeling showed that social support and positive affect were negatively associated with depression, while HIV self-stigma and negative affect were positively associated with depression. Social support, positive affect, and negative affect mediated the association between HIV self-stigma and depression. The hypothesized model had a satisfactory fit. Interventions improving mental health among this population are warranted., Competing Interests: There is no conflict of interests of all authors.

Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) is an evidence-based biomedical HIV prevention method. It is under-utilized in countries outside Africa, including China. The present single-arm, non-blinded test-of-concept trial was designed to promote VMMC among 179 male sexually transmitted diseases patients (MSTDP) in Shenzhen, China. It was based on behavioral health theories and results of a formative survey. At month 4, 45.5 % of the MSTDP responded positively to the intervention (19.9 % had taken up VMMC and 25.6 % intended to do so in the next 6 months). Adjusted analysis showed that cognitive variables measured at baseline (perceived self-efficacy, subjective norm and behavioral intention) significantly predicted adoption of VMMC during the 4-month follow-up period. Process evaluation involving clinicians of the STD clinics was positive. At month 6, 36.0 % of the circumcised participants used condom less frequently with their regular sex partner. We recommend scaling up the intervention, taking prevention of risk compensation into account.

Fear appeal approach has been used in health promotion, but its effectiveness has been mixed. It has not been well applied to HIV prevention among men who have sex with men (MSM). The present study developed and evaluated the relative efficacy of three online interventions (SC: STD-related cognitive approach, SCFI: STD-related cognitive plus fear appeal imagery approach, Control: HIV-related information based approach) in reducing prevalence of unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) among 396 MSM using a randomized controlled trial design. Participants' levels of fear-related emotions immediately after watching the assigned intervention materials were also assessed. Participants were evaluated at baseline and 3 months after the intervention. Results showed that participants in the SCFI scored significantly higher in the instrument assessing fear after the watching the intervention materials. However, no statistically significant differences were found across the three groups in terms of UAI at Month 3. Some significant within-group reductions in some measures of UAI were found in three groups. Further studies are warranted to test the role of fear appeal in HIV prevention.

High risk MSM are recommended to take up HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) once every 6 months. 809 HIV-negative MSM in Beijing, China entered the 18-month prospective cohort study; 228 joined an extended study at month 21. The majority (92.5 %) of the participants had taken up four rounds of VCT over the study period. HIV prevalence at months 0, 6, 12, 18 and 21 ranged from 2.5 to 6.3 %; HIV incidences for the four intervals between the five visits ranged from 5.00 to 14.28 per 100-person year. Despite experiencing repeated VCT, high levels of risk behaviors were reported at month 21. 18 % of the participants interviewed at month 21 self-reported increased in UAI and other risk behaviors, comparing recent and pre-baseline experiences. HIV transmission and risk behaviors had not been reduced by multiple rounds of VCT. Reasons behind apparent ineffectiveness and tailored repeated testing strategies need to be investigated.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) carries a high level of stigma to the HIV-infected individuals and their family members. Children of HIV-infected parents in China are particularly affected. The present study examined the relationship between associative stigma, self-esteem, optimism, anxiety and depression among 195 children of HIV-infected parents in rural China. Findings showed that more than one-third (35.4 %) of the participants scored higher than cut-off for depression; and 23.6-67.7 % of them scored higher than cut-off for different types of anxiety disorders. Structural equation modelling revealed that associative stigma had a significant negative relationship on self-esteem and optimism, which were associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety. The indirect effects of associative stigma on depression and anxiety were significant. The overall model showed a satisfactory fit. Findings suggest that associative stigma has a significant negative impact on mental health of children affected by HIV. Interventions to reduce their associative stigma are warranted.

Condom use is often equated to safer sex. The prevalence of condom use during sex work among female sex workers (FSW) in China is high. Condom use, however, co-exists with condom failure and improper use and hence risk of HIV transmission. In a cross-sectional study, we interviewed 195 FSW in Shenzhen, China. The prevalence of condom use in the last episode of sex work was 97.4 %, However, respectively 53.8 and 86.2 % had experienced at least one condition of condom failure that may lead to genital contact (wearing condoms after penetration, condom breakage/slippage, condoms removed by clients) and at least one condition of improper condom use (not removing air from the tip of the condom, not pulling it down to the root of penis and not choosing good quality condoms). Factors of individual level (e.g. never choosing high quality condoms for sex work), inter-personal level (e.g. agreement to have unprotected sex if fond of clients or paid more) and environmental/structural level (e.g. non-availability of condoms) were associated with various types of condom failure and improper use. Although HIV prevention interventions have increased prevalence of condom use among FSW, the risk of HIV transmission may still be high as "unsafe" sex due to condom failure and improper use is prevalent. Interventions promoting safer sex need to address such issues and take socio-ecological factors into account. Condom use during sex work is not equivalent to well protected sex as the protective effects could be compromised by frequent condom failure and improper use.

In order to understand the social environmental forces faced by females involved in both injection drug use and sex work, and their associations with condom use during commercial sex, 200 participants were recruited using snowball sampling methods in Liuzhou, China. Of the participants, 41.0% used condoms consistently during commercial sex in the last 6 months. Adjusting for significant background variables, factors significantly associated with consistent condom use included: monthly income, soliciting venue, pattern of sex-work organization, experience of violence, social support, others' support of condom use, and utilization of HIV/STI-related services. In the final multivariate model, history of violence (OR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.12-0.44), service utilization (OR = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.05-5.20), clients' willingness to use condoms (OR = 2.63, 95% CI = 1.06-6.54) and social support (OR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.12-0.44) were significant. Service gaps for FSW-IDU exist, and expansion of social services and integration of psychosocial interventions are necessary.

The HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China is severe. Peer can induce risky and preventive behaviors among MSM. We interviewed 220 MSM who had at least one significant other who was a peer MSM (SOPM). Interviews were conducted at two gay venues in Suzhou, China, which reported five HIV-related outcomes: HIV (8.2 %), syphilis (16.4 %), self-reported sexually transmitted infection symptoms (14.6 %), unprotected anal intercourse (UAI; 58.6 %) and having had taken up HIV testing (40.4 %). Adjusting for significant background variables, participants' perceived characteristics of the social network of SOPM, such as practicing risk behavior (e.g. UAI) or preventive behaviors (e.g. HIV antibody testing), or possessing HIV-related perceptions (e.g. dislike in condom use), were significantly associated with some of the five aforementioned outcomes (p < 0.05). Peer education and peer-based interventions involving significant others are hence potentially important in HIV prevention targeting MSM. Future pilot intervention studies are warranted.

Although methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is an important means of HIV control, MMT clinics commonly have high attrition rates. The randomized controlled trial investigated the relative efficacy of adding a psycho-social intervention to the standard-of-care MMT in reducing attrition and non-attendance among first-time newly admitted MMT users in China (n = 288). Social workers implemented this three-phase intervention that was based on a behavioral maintenance theory. It also involved participants' family members and rectified some MMT-related misconceptions. As compared to the control group, the intervention group showed significantly lower likelihood of attrition (HR = 0.55, 95% confidence interval 0.39-0.80), lower estimated probability of attrition at Month 12 (0.35 vs. 0.55), and higher median number of days of attendance (Month 6: 147 vs. 91 days, p < 0.001; end-date: 225 vs. 142 days, p < 0.001). Further psycho-social services and translational research are warranted.

A random sample consisting of 88 sexually active people living with HIV (PLWH) and their HIV negative spouses in rural China were interviewed. Data of 68 couples (77.2 %) who gave identical responses to whether they had been using condoms consistently in the last 12 months (n = 136) were analyzed. The results showed that 27.9 % of the discordant couples used condom inconsistently in the last year. Condom non-availability was the most commonly given main reason for not using condoms. Free condoms should be made available to these low-income couples. Suicidal ideation of the PLWH and the spouse's perception on 'whether someone could contract HIV via unprotected sexual intercourse with a HIV positive person' were significantly associated with inconsistent condom use in the last year. Education program should change the cognition about the risk for HIV transmission via unprotected sex. Integrated psychological services to reduce suicidal ideation are greatly warranted.

In China, the HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men (MSM) has been increasing sharply. A total of 195 Hong Kong MSM having had sex with men in Shenzhen, a mainland China city separated from Hong Kong by a border, were recruited from some randomly selected gay venues in Shenzhen. Participants were face-to-face and anonymously interviewed. The results showed that in the last six months, respectively 62.1, 84.6, and 31.3 % of the participants from Hong Kong had had sex with commercial sex partners (CSP), non-regular partners (NRP) and regular partners (RP) in Shenzhen. The prevalence of unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) with these three types of sex partners was respectively 29.8, 27.9, and 78.7 %. Factors associated with UAI with any MSM in Shenzhen in the last six months included perceived chances of contracting HIV, perceived non-availability of condoms, giving money/gifts to Shenzhen MSM sex partners, and perception that MSM partners in Shenzhen would not always insist on condom use (multivariate OR = 2.9-13.90, p < 0.05), whilst factors of inverse associations included university education, having had sex with NRP but not with CSP and RP in Shenzhen and self-efficacy of insisting on condom use (multivariate OR = 0.04-0.22, p < 0.05). In sum, the prevalence of having multiple types of male sex partners and UAI was high. This was especially true when anal sex with RP was involved. Cross-border HIV prevention is greatly warranted. It should ensure condom availability and modify perceptions toward UAI.

Female condom is an effective means of HIV prevention. Monogamous female sexually transmitted infection (STI) patients are exposed indirectly to high risk of contracting HIV/STI via their sole male sex partners. There are few interventions to protect such women whilst female condom use is a potential means of self-protection. With informed consent, this cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of awareness and acceptability of female condoms among 335 Chinese monogamous female STI patients attending a government STI clinic in Hong Kong. Among those who were aware of female condoms (66.9 % of the sample), 68.3 % were willing to use free female condoms. Awareness was associated with having the sex partner being a boyfriend (OR = 3.76, P < 0.001), knowledge about asymptomatic property of HIV (OR = 2.14, P = 0.006) and no immunity for STI (OR = 2.14, P = 0.011), experience of HIV antibody testing (OR = 2.21, P = 0.004) and unemployment (OR = 0.50, P = 0.011). Among those who had heard of female condoms, acceptability was associated with knowledge about possibility to contracting two STI concomitantly (OR = 2.26, P = 0.03) and perceived chance of contracting STI from the sex partner in the coming 6 months (OR = 2.27, P = 0.04). Awareness is relatively low but the prevalence of acceptability is encouraging. Female condoms have been underused and should be promoted among monogamous female STI patients as a means of empowerment as an option for sex protection.

Clients of female sex workers (CFSW) are at high risk of HIV transmission. Circumcision reduces the risk of heterosexual transmission of HIV. A total of 353 CFSW were interviewed using a combined interviewer-computer-assisted method. Amongst the participants, 28.0% were circumcised, whilst 63.8% of the uncircumcised participants were willing to take up circumcision (conditioned on being briefed about a 50% potential risk reduction effect). In a stepwise logistic regression model, frequency of patronizing female sex workers and factors related to the Health Belief Model were significantly associated with conditional willingness. Amongst uncircumcised participants, 20.9% anticipated risk compensation (i.e. would use condoms less frequently after being circumcised). Adjusting for background variables, inconsistent condom use during commercial sex and self-reported STD history in the last 6 months were significantly associated with anticipated risk compensation. It is feasible to promote circumcision among CFSW but such programs also need to promote condom use.

The randomized controlled trial investigated the relative efficacy of an enhanced (EVCT) versus standard (SVCT) voluntary counseling and testing in reducing unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. 295 participants who recruited by respondent driven sampling methods were randomly allocated to the two arms. In addition to the SVCT, the EVCT group watched a theory-based video narrated by a HIV positive MSM, received enhanced counseling and a reminder gift. As compared to the SVCT group, the EVCT group reported lower prevalence of UAI with any male sex partners (48.4% versus 66.7%, RR = 0.7, ARR = -18.3%, p = 0.010) and with regular male sex partners (52.2% versus 68.9%, RR = 0.8, ARR = -16.7%, p = 0.043) at Month 6, whilst baseline between-group differences were statistically non-significant. Between-group differences in HIV/syphilis incidence were statistically non-significant. Translational research should be conducted to integrate non-intensive enhancements such as the EVCT into regular testing services.

Behavioral surveillance data of 1422 sexually active female injecting drug users (IDU) in Sichuan China were analyzed. The prevalence of syringe-sharing was 43.5%. Respectively, 59.0%, 38.5% and 55.7% had regular, non-regular, and commercial sex-partner (RP, NRP, and CSP); 44.3% had multiple types of sex partners; 23.6 and 36.2% of those with RP had NRP and CSP. The prevalence of unprotected sex (last episode) with RP, NRP and CSP were respectively 75.4%, 50.7% and 39.3%; these three variables were associated with each other and with syringe sharing (univariate OR = 1.58-30.13). About 85% of the participants had attempted quitting drug use; the experience was not associated with condom use. HIV voluntary counseling and testing was associated with lower likelihood of unprotected sex with RP, NRP and CSP (multivariate OR= 0.44-0.60); the coverage was only 40.7%. Potential bridging of HIV transmission from IDU to non-IDU populations is a serious concern.

Male sex workers serving Hong Kong male clients in Shenzhen were surveyed (n = 199); 98.9% had been in Shenzhen for < or =3 years; 83.4% served local male clients; 82.8% had no family members/relatives in Shenzhen; 58.3% depended exclusively on sex work; 73% were bothered by one's sex work; and 81.7% found financial support unavailable when needed. About 29.1% had had unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) with Hong Kong male clients in the last month. UAI behavior was associated with exposure to HIV prevention services (OR = 0.08) and poor social support, being bothered by the sex work, substance use, and type of sex work venue (OR = 2.92-5.96).