Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision and Incident HIV Infection Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in China (The CoM Study): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses based on observational studies have shown voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) may reduce HIV risk among men who have sex with men (MSM). There is a lack of randomized controlled trial (RCT) data assessing the efficacy of VMMC. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of VMMC for preventing HIV acquisition among MSM who primarily engage in insertive anal sex. METHODS: A multicenter RCT will be conducted among MSM in 8 cities in China. Eligible participants are men aged 18-49 years who self-report ≥2 male sex partners in the past 6 months, predominantly practice insertive anal sex, and are willing to undergo circumcision. Interested men who satisfy inclusion criteria will be tested for HIV 1 month before enrollment and at enrollment, and only those who are HIV negative will be enrolled. At baseline, all enrolled participants will be asked to report sociodemographic characteristics and sexual behaviors; provide a blood sample for HIV, syphilis, and herpes simplex virus type 2 testing; and provide a penile swab for human papillomavirus testing. Participants will be randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. Those in the intervention group will receive VMMC and undergo a web-based weekly follow-up assessment of postsurgery healing for 6 consecutive weeks. All participants will be tested for HIV at 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month follow-ups. All participants will also be asked to report sexual behaviors and undergo repeat herpes simplex virus type 2 and human papillomavirus testing at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. The primary end point is HIV seroconversion. Secondary end points are the safety and satisfaction with VMMC and the changes in sexual behaviors after VMMC. The grouped censored data will be analyzed by intention-to-treat approach. RESULTS: Recruitment for the RCT began in August 2020 and continued through July 2022. Data collection is expected to be completed by July 2023, and full data analysis is going to be completed by September 2023. CONCLUSIONS: This study will be the first RCT to assess the efficacy of VMMC in preventing HIV infection among MSM. Results from this trial will provide preliminary evidence for the potential efficacy of VMMC to reduce incident HIV infection among MSM. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2000039436; https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=63369. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/47160.

Awareness and uptake of non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP) among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in China: a cross-sectional study.

Non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP) is recommended to reduce the likelihood of HIV infection after potential exposure. However, little is known about this practice among Chinese gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBM). GBM were enrolled from both centers for disease prevention and control (CDCs) and community health centers in six cities in China. Multivariable logistics regression was used to assess factors associated with awareness of and willingness to use nPEP. A total of 516 eligible GBM were included, 67.2% of whom were aware of nPEP, 76.0% were willing to use nPEP, and 2.3% had ever used nPEP. GBM who had college or higher education, had disclosed sexual orientation, had increased number of male sex partners in the last 6 months, and had ever tested for HIV were more likely to be aware of nPEP. Willingness to use nPEP was significantly associated with college or higher education, STI history, gay app use, and awareness of nPEP prior to study. Uptake of nPEP is still low among MSM in China. Efforts are needed to improve awareness of and access to nPEP among GBM, especially those at higher risk of HIV infection.

Acceptability of male circumcision for HIV prevention among men who have sex with men in China: a short report.

Recent evidence shows that circumcision is associated with lower HIV prevalence among MSM. We assessed the acceptability of circumcision for preventing HIV and that of Shang Ring circumcision (SRC) among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. 538 adult MSM were recruited from six cities in China between January and March 2019. Participants were surveyed by an online, self-administered questionnaire. The acceptability of circumcision was assessed before and after the potential protective effect of circumcision against HIV was informed, and subsequently men's willingness to undergo SRC was assessed. The level of circumcision was 16.4%. Of 450 uncircumcised MSM, their willingness to be circumcised in the following six months increased significantly from 32.2% to 55.6% after the information session. Three quarters of men who were willing to undergo circumcision accepted SRC. MSM who perceived that circumcision could maintain genital hygiene were more likely to accept circumcision after the information session, whereas those who regarded circumcision as an embarrassing surgery were disinclined to be circumcised. The low circumcision rate, along with its high acceptability in Chinese MSM, suggests a great potential benefit of circumcision intervention if proved effective. SRC might be a popular circumcision procedure in this population.

Using protection motivation theory to explain the intention to initiate human papillomavirus vaccination among men who have sex with men in China.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and related diseases are common among men who have sex with men (MSM). The most effective prevention is HPV vaccination. In China, however, men are not included in the HPV vaccination plan. We investigated the intention to initiate HPV vaccination and associated factors among MSM in China. Methods We surveyed 563 unvaccinated MSM aged 18 or older from six cities in China. Participants completed an electronic questionnaire about demographics, knowledge of and attitude towards HPV and HPV vaccine, intention to initiate HPV vaccination, willingness to recommend HPV vaccine to peers, feeling about government policy about HPV vaccination. We used the structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze factors associated with HPV vaccine intention. Results The knowledge of HPV and HPV vaccine among participants was low. The mean score of knowledge about HPV and HPV vaccine was only 1.59 (range 0-11). The intention to initiate HPV vaccination within 6 months among participants was moderate (43.3% in total, 18.1% for 'very high' and 25.2% for 'above average').

Effect of availability of HIV self-testing on HIV testing frequency among men who have sex with men attending university in China (UniTest): protocol of a stepped-wedge randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: HIV testing plays a central role in the combat against HIV. We aimed to determine if the availability of HIV self-testing (HIVST) would increase the frequency of testing among men who have sex with men (MSM) attending university in China. METHODS: A stepped wedge randomized controlled trial will be conducted in 4 provinces in China: Chongqing, Guangdong, Shandong, and Tianjin. Eligibility assessment will include (1) male, aged 16 years or older, (2) university student (technical diploma and undergraduate students), (3) MSM (sexual behaviors including mutual masturbation, oral sex, and anal sex), (4) HIV negative, and (5) willing to provide informed consent. Participants will be randomly allocated to HIV self-testing intervention with free HIVST kits in every 30 days according to the intervention waiting lists with a computer-generated randomized sequence. All participants will complete a self-administrated online questionnaire onsite at baseline and 12-month follow-up and complete an online questionnaire at 4- and 8-month. The primary outcome is the effect of HIVST on HIV testing frequency. Secondary outcomes include the change in sexual behaviors and HIV incidence. DISCUSSION: No previous study had measured the effect of social media based HIVST intervention on the change in HIV testing behaviors, sexual behaviors and incident HIV infection among MSM attending university in China. Findings from this study will provide evidence for further interventional practice promotions and prevention strategies scale-up, including HIV testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) or post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and sexual partner serosorting. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR1900020645. Registered 11 January 2019.

Rectal douching among men who have sex with men in six cities in China: a cross-sectional study.

Background Rectal douching, which is a common practice among men who have sex men (MSM) as a preparation for anal sex, may potentially increase the risk of HIV infection. However, little is known about the practice of rectal douching among Chinese MSM. This study investigated the characteristics of rectal douching and factors associated with rectal douching. METHODS: Between January and March 2019, MSM aged ≥18 years in six cities in China were recruited to the study. Participants were asked to complete a self-administered online questionnaire. Chi-squared tests and multivariable logistic regression were used to examine factors associated with rectal douching by calculating odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Of 485 MSM in this study, 278 (57.3%) practiced rectal douching in the preceding 6 months. The most common reasons for douching before and after anal sex were hygiene/cleanliness (78.6% and 66.1% respectively) and HIV/STI prevention (8.5% and 17.4% respectively). The most used enemas and equipment before and after anal sex were tap water (73.5% and 70.2% respectively) and showerhead hoses (76.1% and 75.2% respectively). Men who engaged in both insertive and receptive anal sex (OR 8.84; 95% CI 4.52-17.30), exclusively receptive anal sex (OR 6.56; 95% CI 3.55-12.13), condom-less anal intercourse (OR 1.64; 95% CI 1.03-2.63) and anal sex after alcohol use (OR 1.54; 95% CI 1.00-2.35) were more likely to perform douching. CONCLUSION: Rectal douching is common in MSM, some of whom may not realise the potential risks associated with douching. The co-occurrence of douching and other high-risk behaviours would make MSM more vulnerable to HIV. Health education aimed at informing MSM of the potential risks and addressing the high prevalence of douching are urgently needed.