ArticleJournal of the International AIDS Society2017
Disclosure of sexual orientation to health professionals in China: results from an online cross-sectional study.
Article in Journal of the International AIDS Society, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 33 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
33 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 74 citations in OpenAlex.
- Prevalence of sexualized drug use and risk of HIV among sexually active MSM in East and South Asian countries: systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of the International AIDS Society · 2023Pooled it
- Disclosure of Same-Sex Behaviors to Health-care Providers and Uptake of HIV Testing for Men Who Have Sex With Men: A Systematic Review.American journal of men's health · 2018Pooled it
- An Incognito Standardized Patient Approach for Measuring and Reducing Intersectional Healthcare Stigma: A Pilot Cluster Randomized Control Trial.Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999) · 2025Trial
- Anticipated HIV stigma among HIV negative men who have sex with men in China: a cross-sectional study.BMC infectious diseases · 2020Trial
- Acquired HIV-1 Drug Resistance and Molecular Transmission Networks in Zhongwei, Ningxia, China.Viruses · 2026Article
- Covering Up or Coming Out? The Role of Social Media Engagement and Sexual Self-Identification in Disclosure of Sexual Orientation Among Stigmatized Gay and Bisexual Men.International journal of sexual health : official journal of the World Association for Sexual Health · 2026Article
- Dynamic transmission and evolutionary analysis of the HIV-1 subtype CRF01_AE pol region in Ningxia, China.PloS one · 2026Article
- Treatment-naïve people living with HIV aged 50 years or older in Beijing, China, 2010-2020: joinpoint regression model analysis of surveillance data.Journal of the International AIDS Society · 2023Article
- Willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine among HIV positive men who have sex with men in China: a cross-sectional study.BMC public health · 2023Article
- Article
- Distinct Rates and Transmission Patterns of Major HIV-1 Subtypes among Men who Have Sex with Men in Guangxi, China.Frontiers in microbiology · 2023Article
- High risks of HIV transmission for men sex worker - a comparison of profile and risk factors of HIV infection between MSM and MSW in China.BMC public health · 2022Article
- Chained multimediator model of sexual orientation disclosure, sexual minority stigma, sexual minority identity, social support, and resilience among ymsms.BMC public health · 2022Article
- Non-disclosed men who have sex with men within local MSM HIV-1 genetic transmission networks in Guangyuan, China.Frontiers in public health · 2022Article
- Association between sexual orientation acceptance and suicidal ideation, substance use, and internalised homophobia amongst the pink carpet Y cohort study of young gay, bisexual, and queer men in Singapore.BMC public health · 2021Article
- Disclosure of Same-Sex Sexual Practices to Family and Healthcare Providers by Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Women in Nigeria.Archives of sexual behavior · 2021Article
- Mental Health Services for Men Who Have Sex with Men in China.Community mental health journal · 2021Article
- Adolescent and non-consensual anal sexual debut among Chinese men who have sex with men: a cross-sectional study.BMC infectious diseases · 2020Article
- Lack of sexual behavior disclosure may distort STI testing outcomes.BMC public health · 2020Article
- The Central Role of Nondisclosed Men Who Have Sex With Men in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 Transmission Networks in Guangzhou, China.Open forum infectious diseases · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
17 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundMany men who have sex with men (MSM) in China are "in the closet." The low rate of disclosure may impact sexual behaviours, testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and diseases transmission. This study examines factors associated with overall sexual orientation disclosure and disclosure to healthcare professionals.
methodsA nationwide cross-sectional online survey was conducted from September 2014 to October 2014 in China. Participants completed questions covering socio-demographic information, sexual behaviours, HIV/STI testing history, and self-reported HIV status. We defined healthcare professional disclosure as disclosing to a doctor or other medical provider.
resultsA total of 1819 men started the survey and 1424 (78.3%) completed it. Among the 1424 participants, 62.2% (886/1424) reported overall disclosure, and 16.3% (232/1424) disclosed to healthcare professionals. In multivariate analyses, the odds of sexual orientation disclosure were 56% higher among MSM who used smartphone-based, sex-seeking applications [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.25-2.95], but were lower among MSM reporting sex while drunk or recreational drug use. The odds of disclosure to a healthcare professional were greater among MSM who had ever tested for HIV or STIs (aOR = 3.36, 95% CI: 2.50-4.51 for HIV, and aOR = 4.92, 95% CI: 3.47-6.96 for STIs, respectively) or self-reported as living with HIV (aOR = 1.59, 95% CI: 0.93-2.72).
conclusionOver 80% of MSM had not disclosed their sexual orientation to health professionals. This low level of disclosure likely represents a major obstacle to serving the unique needs of MSM in clinical settings. Further research and interventions to facilitate MSM sexual orientation disclosure, especially to health professionals, are urgently needed.
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Registered trials
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