PMID- 28095879 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20170207 LR - 20181202 IS - 2049-9957 (Electronic) IS - 2049-9957 (Linking) VI - 6 IP - 1 DP - 2017 Jan 18 TI - Treatment-seeking behaviour and barriers to service access for sexually transmitted diseases among men who have sex with men in China: a multicentre cross-sectional survey. PG - 15 LID - 10.1186/s40249-016-0219-5 [doi] LID - 15 AB - BACKGROUND: Delayed or inappropriate treatment for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) increases the risk of HIV acquisition and may cause other harmful outcomes. However, studies on STD treatment-seeking behaviour and correlated factors in men who have sex with men (MSM) are scarce. This information is crucial for the promotion of STD treatment-seeking behaviour and reduction of HIV transmission among Chinese MSM. METHODS: During 2012-2013, a multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted in 7 Chinese cities. Participants completed an interview-questionnaire and gave venous blood samples, which were then tested for antibodies to HIV, syphilis, and herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2). MSM who tested positive for syphilis/HSV-2 or had obvious STD-related symptoms within the last 12 months were defined as suspected STD-infected MSM. RESULTS: Of the 4 496 eligible MSM who completed this survey, 24.4% (1 096/4 496) were categorized as suspected STD-infected MSM. 35.7% (391/1 096) of these MSM with suspected STD infections sought STD treatment in clinics within the last 12 months. Among MSM who did not attend STD clinics for treatment, the prevalence of syphilis and HSV-2 was significantly higher; the HIV prevalence and incidence within this subpopulation reached as high as 14.5% and 12.2/100 person-years, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that having 7-12 years of education (vs. /=13 years of education (vs. 500 USD (vs.