BMC Public Health (Jan 2023)

Willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine among HIV positive men who have sex with men in China: a cross-sectional study

  • Songjie Wu,
  • Shanhui Zhu,
  • Xumeng Yan,
  • Yongshi Xu,
  • Huifang Xu,
  • Fang Yang,
  • Zhigang Han,
  • Yuzhou Gu,
  • Yi Zhou,
  • Zhengrong Yang,
  • Huake Yang,
  • Bo Shu,
  • Weiming Tang,
  • Ke Liang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14961-5
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 23, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Abstract Background People living with HIV(PLWH) are deemed more vulnerable to the SARS-CoV-2 infection than the uninfected population. Vaccination is an effective measure for COVID-19 control, yet, little knowledge exists about the willingness of men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV in China to be vaccinated. Methods This cross-sectional study evaluated the willingness of MSM living with HIV to receive COVID-19 vaccination in six cities of Guangdong, China, from July to September 2020. Factors associated with willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccination using multivariable logistic regression. Results In total, we recruited 944 HIV-positive MSM with a mean age of 29.2 ± 7.7 years. Of all participants, 92.4% of them were willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Participants who were separated, divorced, or widowed (adjusted OR: 5.29, 95%CI: 1.02–27.48), had an annual income higher than 9,000 USD (adjusted OR: 1.70, 95%CI: 1.01–2.86), had ever taken an HIV self-test (adjusted OR: 1.78, 95%CI: 1.07–2.95), had ever disclosed sexual orientation to a doctor/nurse (adjusted OR: 3.16, 95%CI: 1.33–7.50), had ever disclosed sexual orientation to others besides their male partners (adjusted OR: 2.18, 95%CI: 1.29–3.69) were more willing to receive the vaccine. Sex with a female partner in the past six months decreased the likelihood of willingness to receive the vaccine (adjusted OR: 0.40, 95%CI: 0.17–0.95). Economic burden, worry that my health condition could not bear the risk of receiving COVID-19 vaccines, and concern that the vaccination would affect the immune status and antiretroviral therapy were the main reasons for unwillingness to receive vaccination. Conclusion Our study showed that HIV-positive MSM had a high willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. Targeted interventions such as health education should be conducted among MSM with HIV infection to enhance COVID-19 vaccine uptake.

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