Gay Apps for Seeking Sex Partners in China: Implications for MSM Sexual Health

Abstract

Anti-gay stigma and harsh local environments in many low and middle-income countries (LMIC) encourage men who have sex with men (MSM) partner-seeking mobile application (gay app) use. To investigate the sexual risk profiles of gay app users and guide future HIV prevention programs, we conducted a cross-sectional online survey among 1,342 MSM in China examining associations between gay app use and sexual behaviors, including HIV and sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing. Compared to non-app users, app users were more likely to be younger, better educated, “out” about their sexual orientation, and single. They were also more likely to report multiple recent sex partners and HIV testing, but there was no difference in condomless sex between the two groups. Future research among MSM in LMIC is needed to characterize gay app use and explore its potential for future public health interventions.

Seeking Male Sexual Partners via Internet and Traditional Venues among Chinese Men Who Have Sex with Men: Implications for HIV Risk Reduction Interventions

“…Our results were in line with previous studies assessing samples recruited online or offline [15,16,20,28,[34][35][36][37][38][39][40] that Chinese MSM mostly using Internet to find sex were more likely to be younger, currently single, have higher education, have higher monthly income, engage in condomless receptive anal sex, or have higher odds of being HIV-positive; while less likely to drink alcohol, use alcohol before sex, have sex with women. Our study also uniquely documented that online sex-finding MSM tended to live in the city for longer, being a registered local resident, have health insurance, ever use illicit drugs, or have fewer years in sexual activity.…”

“…Our study showed that the Internet was the most common venue for Chinese MSM to seek male sexual partners, consistent with findings from previous studies that online AIDS Behav sex-finding has become the predominant mode among MSM in China, as in other countries [15,16,[28][29][30]. China has been experiencing vast economic and information technology developments in the past decades, allowing an unprecedented number of people to get access to Internet [28].…”

“…Since most Chinese MSM in our Beijing study conducted online sex-seeking, Internet and information technology-based platforms must be used for the dissemination of HIV knowledge, enhancing their testing services and subsequent linkage to HIV care. For example, these can be realized by targeting and collaborating with some most frequently visited gay websites for advertising the benefits of prevention intervention programs, and developing/tailoring some gay-friendly smartphone applications to expand targeted MSM populations [16]. In the meantime, venue-based prevention interventions in collaboration with CBOs, such as onsite provision of volunteer testing and counseling, HIV prevention promotion and awareness/knowledge enhancement campaign, should also be emphasized, with the consideration of accommodating specific sex-finding patterns, cultural/psychological needs, and literacy level of many Chinese MSM.…”

“…& Sten H. Vermund sten.vermund@vanderbilt.edu privately [16]. Risk reduction interventions were often venue-based to reach the largest number of vulnerable men [17].…”

HIV incidence among gay men and other men who have sex with men in 2020: where is the epidemic heading?

“…Subsequent to this, the growing popularity of online sex-seeking and geo-spatial social networking applications has resulted in easy access to high numbers of instantaneous sexual partners. [23][24][25][26][27] Once again, this has increased contact rates between MSM as well as probably of HIV transmission, thereby driving HIV incidence among MSM in recent years.…”