[Analysis of factors related to the online social interaction and causal sexual behaviors among foreigners in Guangzhou].

Objective: To understand the social support, social network, and sexual behavior characteristics of foreigners living in Guangzhou, analyze factors relating to aspects of online social interactions and sexual behaviors of foreigners in Guangzhou, and provide references for targeted HIV intervention services for foreigners. Methods: A cross-sectional survey (both online and offline), among those who met the inclusion criteria was conducted between November 2019 and January 2020. Data were collected on demographics, social support, online social interactions, sexual behaviors, and so on. Statistics were compiled to analyze the factors that may influence casual sexual behaviors. Results: A total of 434 participants were included in the study (241 offline and 193 online). The majority of the participants were male 68.4% (297/434), age (31.0±8.8) years old, African 79.0% (343/434), business people 46.5% (202/434), students 48.2% (209/434), who have business partners and family members in China were 59.4% (258/434) and 28.1% (122/434) separately. They also had the following features: less than 10 close friends 57.1% (248/434); spend 1-3 hours on social applications per day 43.3% (188/434), had casual sexual behaviors in the last 3 months 15.2% (55/363). Multiple logistic regression model analysis showed that compared with those who used social applications for less than 1 hour per day, participants who used social applications for more than 6 hours per day were more likely to have casual sexual behaviors in the last 3 months (OR=3.63, 95%CI: 1.31-10.08). Conclusions: Participants who used social applications for a longer period every day were more likely to have casual sexual behaviors among foreigners in Guangzhou. Good use of social applications for health promotion and education of HIV can increase the health awareness of foreigners in China.