Sexual risk behaviors among men who have sex with men:an Internet outreach sample.

Objective To examine sexual risk behaviors in Chinese men who have sex with men(MSM)in a sample recruited through Internet outreach.Methods Three hundred and fifty-three Chinese MSM were recruited,with inforned consent,from seven gay websites by Internet outreach from August to November 2001.A 85-item self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information about use of the Internet,HIV knowledge and attitudes,sexual risk behaviors etc.Results Nearly 70% of participants had sex with other MSM who were got to know through the Internet.Few participants used condoms in oral sex with MSM,and about two third of participants practiced anal sex without condoms.Conclusions Sexual risk behaviors are common in Chinese MSM.The Internet may provide a cost effective way for conducting HIV prevention.