The Characteristics of Heterosexual STD Clinic Attendees Who Practice Oral Sex in Zhejiang Province, China

BACKGROUND: The characteristics of heterosexual attendees who visit sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics and practice oral sex have not been revealed in China. This information is important for the development of targeted STD prevention programmes for this population. STUDY DESIGN: A self-administered questionnaire survey with a cross-sectional design was administered to consecutive attendees at four STD clinics in Zhejiang Province, China, between October and December in 2007. Demographic, psychosocial, and behavioural factors associated with oral sex over a lifetime were identified using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Of the 872 attendees, 6.9% engaged in oral sex over their lifetimes. Of the oral-sex group, 96.6% also engaged in vaginal sex. The correlates for oral sex over a lifetime as determined by the multivariate analysis were high income (odds ratio [OR] = 2.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.39–4.59), high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related knowledge (OR = 2.71, 95% CI 1.26–5.81), early sex initiation (OR = 2.42, 95% CI 1.37–4.27), multiple sexual partners (OR = 3.09, 95% CI 1.58–6.06), and sexually active in the previous 6 months (OR = 7.73, 95% CI 1.04–57.39). CONCLUSIONS: Though the prevalence of oral sex is low, the heterosexual STD clinic attendees practicing oral sex was found to have higher risks associated with STD/HIV transmission than those not. Behavioural and medical interventions conducted by clinicians in Chinese STD clinics should take into account the characteristics and related risks of those who practice oral sex.