September 7, 2007

HIV and STIs on the Rise for Chinese MSM

There was a significant increase in the rates of STIs and HIV infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China between 2004 and 2006, according to recent surveys of MSM in Beijing. The spiking numbers are the result of an increase in the average number of partners, coupled with no increase in consistent condom use over the same three years.

Studies conducted in 2004, 2005 and 2006 of MSM aged 16 and above found that the number of men who reported having multiple sex partners increased considerably.

In 2004, 2.4 percent of the men reported having 10 or more partners in the past six months; this figure rose to 17.4 percent in 2006. In 2004, 4 percent of the men were HIV positive; by 2006 this percentage rose to 5.8. Rates of STIs also skyrocketed, from 15.1 percent to 27.9 percent in three years.