142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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HIV, ethnicity, and religion among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Beijing, China: A qualitative study

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Stephen W Pan , School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Zheng Zhang , Chaoyang Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
Dongliang Li , Chaoyang Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
Yunan Xu , State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
Xuebing Leng , Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
Richard M Carpiano , Department of Sociology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Martin T Schechter , School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Patricia M Spittal, PhD. , School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Yuhua Ruan , Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
BACKGROUND
The rapid growth of religious affiliations and ethnic minority populations in China has important implications for MSM sexual health and HIV risk. This qualitative study aims to elucidate HIV-relevant implications of ethnocultural affiliations among MSM in Beijing, China.

METHODS
Data were collected in 2013 by in-depth, semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with MSM residing in Beijing, China. Forty-one interviews were conducted with MSM from eleven ethnic groups, and included Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, and non-religious men. Verbatim Chinese interview transcripts were coded, verified, and analyzed thematically.

RESULTS
Muslim and Christian MSM discussed experiencing heightened mental distress and internalized homonegativity due to beliefs that homosexual sex contradicts the doctrines of their religion. Some religious respondents perceived HIV infection as supernatural retribution for an immoral lifestyle.

Respondents discussed how religious beliefs informed decisions regarding sexual concurrency and anal/oral sex. Many Muslims were not circumcised and did not associate male circumcision with Muslim identity. Christians, Muslims, and ethnic Zhuang discussed avoiding sex with their religious or ethnic peers because it was perceived to be socially awkward.

Ethnic Uyghur and Hui MSM discussed being adversely stereotyped because of ethnicity, while other respondents described Uyghur and Hui men as less than socially desirable.

Christian respondents discussed how involvement with an LGBT Christian organization helped them mitigate and cope with mental stress as a Christian MSM.

Numerous respondents discussed episodes of forced sex and unprotected anal intercourse.

CONCLUSION
Religious and ethnic identity pose important implications for understanding HIV risk among MSM in China and requires additional research.

Learning Areas:

Diversity and culture
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe distinct experiences and perspectives pertinent to HIV vulnerabilities among ethnic and religious minority men who have sex with men in Beijing, China. Discuss directions for future HIV prevention research among ethnocultural minority men who have sex with men in China.

Keyword(s): Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT), Minority Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I designed and personally conducted the interviews of the study to be discussed during the presentation. I have been collaborating with public health researchers in China for seven years, and have published numerous peer reviewed-articles concerning ethnocultural health issues, HIV, and men who have sex with men. I have also been the recipient of research training grants from the US department of state and University of British Columbia.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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