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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Sexually transmitted infection testing practices among ‘money boys’ and general men who have sex with men in Shanghai, China: objective versus self-reported status

Lavinia Lin A , Eric J. Nehl A , Alvin Tran A B , Na He C , Tony Zheng D and Frank Y. Wong A E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.

B Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

C Department of Epidemiology, Fudan University School of Public Health, Shanghai 200032, China.

D Shanghai Piaoxue Cultural Media Ltd, Shanghai, China.

E Corresponding author. Email: fwong3@emory.edu

Sexual Health 11(1) 94-96 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH13199
Submitted: 19 December 2013  Accepted: 9 February 2014   Published: 18 March 2014

Abstract

Little is known about sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing among Chinese men who have sex with men (MSM). This study describes the prevalence of STI testing, associated factors and the validity of STI self-reporting among Chinese MSM. Findings indicated a high prevalence of STIs and low testing rates among MSM in Shanghai. Monthly income was significantly associated with STI testing (odds ratio: 0.37, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18 to 0.76). Depression was significantly associated with STI testing for general MSM (odds ratio: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.17). Syphilis self-reported status had the highest validity (k = 0.33, χ2 = 3.76, 95% CI: –0.003 to 0.65). Efforts are needed to ensure that STI testing services are accessible to MSM in China. Future HIV and STI interventions should be tailored to the needs of different subsets of MSM.

Additional keywords: associations, male sex workers, prevalence, testing rates.


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