HIV-Related Risk Behavior and History of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Among Male Migrants Who Patronize Commercial Sex in China

Men who pay for sexual services run an increased risk of contracting HIV and other STDs. Data on the sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics of such men in China are limited. The authors administered two cross-sectional surveys, using similar instruments, among Chinese migrants in Beijing, Shanghai and Nanjing in 2002. A total of 1,304 rural-to-urban migrant males from community settings (community sample) and 465 migrant men attending STD clinics (STD clinic sample) were included in the study.

Ten percent of men in the community sample and 32.7 percent in the STD clinic sample reported having ever paid for sex. Almost 20 percent of clients from the community sample and 60 percent from the STD clinic sample reported a history of STDs. For both samples, factors associated with being a male client were working at industrial or construction sectors, multiple sexual partners, regular sex partner having sex with others, and history of drug use. Perceived peer sexual risk and perceived vulnerability to STDs were associated with being a male client in the community sample. A history of STDs and being tested for STDs and HIV were associated with being a male client in the STD clinic sample.

"Male migrants who paid for sex in China were vulnerable to HIV/STDs," the authors concluded. "HIV prevention efforts should target young migrant men who work at factory and construction sectors. STD clinics may be important sites for outreach and intervention efforts among male clients."

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