Ethnicity and HIV vulnerabilities among men who have sex with men in China |
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| Authors: | Stephen W Pan Richard M Carpiano Dongliang Li Zheng Zhang Martin T Schechter Patricia M Spittal |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Public Health, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, People’s Republic of China;2. School of Public Policy, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA;3. Department of Sociology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA;4. Center for Healthy Communities, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA;5. Chaoyang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People’s Republic of China;6. School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada |
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| Abstract: | Ethnic affiliation can define sociocultural boundaries and contribute to the HIV vulnerabilities faced by men who have sex with men (MSM). This study investigated the influence of ethnic affiliation on HIV vulnerabilities among MSM in North China. Our study analyzed a cross-sectional survey of MSM (n?=?398) in two major North China cities. We examined associations between ethnic affiliation and (a) HIV status, (b) sexual behaviors and experiences, and (c) substance use. Compared to ethnic majority Han MSM: MSM belonging to ethnic minority groups of South China had significantly greater odds of HIV infection (AOR: 7.40; 95% CI: 2.33–23.47) and experience of forced sex (AOR: 3.27; 95% CI: 1.12–9.52). Compared to ethnic majority Han MSM, Ethnic Hui MSM had significantly lower odds of condomless anal sex (AOR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.21–0.82) and significantly greater odds of circumcision (AOR: 2.62; 95% CI: 1.24–5.51). HIV prevalence and riskier sexual behaviors among MSM in China appear to vary significantly by ethnic affiliation. Current epidemiological practices of aggregating all ethnic minority groups in China into a single category may be masking important interethnic differences in HIV risk, and precluding opportunities for more culturally appropriate interventions. |
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| Keywords: | Ethnic affiliation gay sexual networks ethnic minorities Muslim |
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