Male rural-to-urban migrants and risky sexual behavior: a cross-sectional study in Shanghai, China

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2014 Mar 10;11(3):2846-64. doi: 10.3390/ijerph110302846.

Abstract

This study examined the prevalence and the determinants of risky sexual behavior (defined as having multiple sex partners and paying for sex) among male rural-to-urban migrants in China. An anonymous questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and behavior associated with increased risk of risky sexual behavior from 4,069 subjects. In total 1,132 (27.8%) participants reported two or more sex partners and 802 (19.7%) participants paid for sex. A considerable proportion (29.6%-41.5%) did not use a condom during risky sexual behavior. Logistic regression analysis revealed that unmarried status (OR: 0.62, CI: 0.42-0.85 for married), earlier age at first sexual experience (OR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.31-0.91 for ≥ 22 years old), poor perception of risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS (OR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.33-1.96 for unlikely; OR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.61-3.70 for impossible), frequent exposure to pornography (OR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.60-0.81 for sometimes; OR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.11-0.43 for never), attitudes toward legalization of commercial sex (OR: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.21-0.59 for no), peer influence (OR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.27-0.88 for no), and not knowing someone who had/had died from HIV/AIDS (OR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.20-0.53 for yes) were all significantly associated with having multiple sex partners. Those who paid for sex showed similar findings.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • China
  • Cities / statistics & numerical data
  • Condoms / statistics & numerical data
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Erotica
  • HIV Infections
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Peer Group
  • Risk-Taking*
  • Sexual Behavior / psychology*
  • Sexual Behavior / statistics & numerical data*
  • Transients and Migrants / psychology*
  • Transients and Migrants / statistics & numerical data
  • Young Adult