Condom use and related factors among 281 MSM in Chengdu, China during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Abstract Background During Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, as a sexual minority group, men who have sex with men (MSM) faced risks of COVID-19 and HIV infection at the same time. However, there is no in-depth study on the MSM with their homosexual regular and casual partners during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study is to explore condom use and related factors among MSM during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to provide suggestions for MSM intervention strategies in the post-pandemic era. Methods A cross-sectional study design was used to study the condom use of MSM with regular and casual homosexual partners. Logistic regression was used to analyze related factors of MSM 's consistent condom use, including basic information, HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, HIV/AIDS-related stigma, sexual behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic and self-efficacy of condom use. Results During the COVID-19 pandemic, 112 (65.1%) of 172 MSM having regular homosexual partners insisted on using condoms when having sex with regular homosexual partners, and 119 (66.5%) of 179 MSM with casual homosexual partners. Logistic regression showed that the protective factors of condom use among MSM with their regular partners were self-employed or other occupations (OR = 4.857, 95% CI = 1.008–23.410 ), personal monthly income ≥ 5000 yuan (OR = 9.947, 95% CI = 1.198–82.615), self-reported as bisexuality (OR = 7.290, 95% CI = 1.693–31.395), fear of COVID-19 infection through sexual behavior (OR = 6.822, 95% CI = 1.291–36.067), and high score of condom use efficacy (OR = 1.200, 95% CI = 1.124–1.281). The risk factors were awareness of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge (OR = 0.049, 95% CI = 0.006–0.417) and having heterosexual sex (OR = 0.220, 95% CI = 0.051–0.95). The high score of condom use efficacy (OR = 1.123, 95% CI = 1.069–1.181) was also the protective factor of consistent condom use between MSM with casual homosexual partners, and the risk factors were urban household registration (OR = 0.368, 95% CI = 0.14–0.968), living with family members (OR = 0.261, 95% CI = 0.08–0.849), high score of HIV/AIDS-related stigma (OR = 0.921, 95% CI = 0.848-1), and heterosexual sex (OR = 0.253, 95% CI = 0.076–0.847). Conclusions During the COVID-19 pandemic, MSM had a moderate level of consistent condom use with homosexual regular and casual partners. The use of condom is affected by general demographic characteristics, social psychology, sexual behavior, and other factors, especially in the psychological aspect. Health workers in relevant departments such as disease control and prevention should focus on the psychological problems of MSM, especially in the outbreak of major public health events. Health workers should actively guide and solve MSM’s negative emotions, so as to improve the condom use of MSM during this period.