To assess the potential for HIV acquisition among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Guangzhou, China, we conducted a cross-sectional,
anonymous, face-to-face survey of MSM in the metropolitan area of Guangzhou, China. As a pilot recruitment for a cohort study,
participants were recruited by convenience sampling through newspaper and television advertising, website information, and
respondent referral. Blood samples were tested for HIV, hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and syphilis. Client-centered
HIV and STD counseling was provided.
A total of 201 MSM were interviewed and 200 blood samples were tested. The prevalence of HIV antibody was 0% (97.5% CI 0–1.8%);
17.5% of MSM were HBV surface antigen positive; 1.0% had HCV antibodies; 10.5% had antibodies to syphilis. Syphilis seropositivity
was associated with sex with a foreign MSM in the last six months and 10.4% reported sex with a foreign MSM overall. The majority
(54.7%) reported unprotected anal sex with other men. Nearly one-third (31.8%) had regular female partners; 25.9% were currently
married to a woman; 6% had casual female partners; 4.5% had sex with a female sex worker; 4.5% had sex with a male sex worker;
and 12.9% had unprotected vaginal sex and unprotected anal sex with a man in the past six months. Only one MSM reported injection
drug use (0.5%). The currently low prevalence of HIV but high level of unprotected anal sex, high prevalence of syphilis infection,
and sexual networks that include foreign MSM point to a transient window for HIV prevention among MSM in Guangzhou. We recognize
challenges to recruiting a representative sample of MSM and retaining them in longitudinal cohort studies.
Keywords China - Men who have sex with men - HIV - Sexually transmitted infection (STI) - Risk behavior