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Open Access 01-12-2021 | Human Immunodeficiency Virus | Research

The effects of intimate relationship characteristics on unprotected anal intercourse among same-sex male couples in China: a dyadic analysis using the actor-partner interdependence model

Authors: Sha Chen, Qingling Yang, Juan He, Xiongzhi Fan, Zhongqi Liu, Jialing Qiu, Zhiwei Zheng, Jing Gu, Weibin Cheng, Yuantao Hao, Jinghua Li, Chun Hao

Published in: BMC Infectious Diseases | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background

Unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) within the context of concurrent sexual relationship are prevalent among men who have sex with men (MSM) who have regular male sex partners and it aggravates the risk of HIV infection among this community. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of intimate relationship characteristics on UAI among MSM couples at the dyadic level.

Methods

Two hundred four MSM couples were recruited from a HIV testing clinic from April 2017 to April 2018 in Guangzhou, China. The actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) was applied for dyadic analysis. Each MSM couple was divided into the insertive role and the receptive role according to their regular anal sex role. In this context, actor effect is the impact of an MSM’s intimate relationship characteristics on his own UAI, and partner effect is the impact of his partner’s intimate relationship characteristics on his UAI.

Results

Of the 408 participants, 58.82% had UAI with regular male sex partner (UAI-RP) and 8.09% had concurrent UAI. Intimate relationship characteristics were associated with concurrent UAI, but not associated with UAI-RP. For the receptive role, his relationship investment exerted significant actor and partner effects on concurrent UAI (AOR _actor = 1.31, P < 0.001; AOR _partner = 1.17, P < 0.001). Meanwhile, receptive role’s violence experience within relationship exerted significant actor effects on his own concurrent UAI (AOR _actor = 6.43, P = 0.044).

Conclusions

Relationship investment and violence experience influenced concurrent UAI among MSM couples and it varied in different sex roles. Additional assistance on empowerment, relationship therapy and sexual agreement is urgently needed to reduce their high possibility on engagement of HIV-related risk behaviors.

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Title: The effects of intimate relationship characteristics on unprotected anal intercourse among same-sex male couples in China: a dyadic analysis using the actor-partner interdependence model
Authors: Sha Chen
Qingling Yang
Juan He
Xiongzhi Fan
Zhongqi Liu
Jialing Qiu
Zhiwei Zheng
Jing Gu
Weibin Cheng
Yuantao Hao
Jinghua Li
Chun Hao
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keyword: Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Published in: BMC Infectious Diseases / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2334
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-021-06317-y

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