[Analysis of characteristics of anonymous online dating and related factors of not being tested for HIV among men who have sex with men in Shandong Province].

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of anonymous online dating and related factors of not being tested for HIV among men who have sex with men and to provide the basis for developing targeted HIV prevention strategies and intervention measures. Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design, respondents were recruited with the assistance of MSM social organizations from April to July 2023 in eight cities in Shandong Province. Snowball sampling, activity venues, and networks were employed, targeting a sample size of 400 people per city. A face-to-face questionnaire survey collected data on sociodemographic characteristics, drug use, sexual intercourse, and online informed dating. Blood samples were also collected for HIV and syphilis antibody testing. Results: In the past six months, 2 787 MSM sought homosexual partners through the Internet, and 78.26% (2 181/2 787) chose to make anonymous online dating. Before having homosexual sex with online sexual partners, 10.41% (290/2 787) of them did not ask each other about HIV infection status and 33.37% (930/2 787) of them not being tested for HIV. There were statistically significant differences in the distribution of age, marital status, household registration, education level, sexual orientation, ways to find male sexual partners, not asking online sexual partners about their HIV status before sexual intercourse, no mutual HIV testing with online sexual partners before sexual intercourse, and syphilis antibody between anonymous and non-anonymous online dating persons (all P<0.05). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that <25 years old (aOR=1.43, 95%CI: 1.15-1.77) and ≥35 years old age group (aOR=1.61, 95%CI: 1.29-2.01), people with no AIDS knowledge (aOR=2.37, 95%CI: 1.25-4.49), drug users (aOR=1.38, 95%CI: 1.17-1.63), online dating anonymous (aOR=2.19, 95%CI: 1.76-2.73), HIV antibody positive (aOR=3.61, 95%CI: 2.22-5.88) and no intervention services in the last 1 year (aOR=1.58, 95%CI: 1.05-2.38) were the related factors of MSM not being tested for HIV before having sexual intercourse through online dating. Conclusions: The phenomenon of anonymous online dating was common among MSM in Shandong Province, and the proportion of MSM not being tested for HIV before having sexual intercourse through anonymous online dating was relatively high. It is necessary to strengthen health publicity and promote informed dating in MSM.