Efficacy of standardized Internet+ standardized intervention modes against AIDS high-risk behaviors among MSM in Chongqing

To explore the practical application effectiveness of Internet+ standardized intervention modes (infection prevention+ regular testing+ self-directed learning+ peer influence) in the comprehensive prevention and control of AIDS among men who have sex with men (MSM) and to evaluate the efficacy of integrating modern information technology with traditional standardized intervention measures against AIDS-related high-risk behaviors in MSM.

From September 2023 to September 2024, a total of 947 male MSM aged ≥18 years who self-identified as non-heterosexual and were registered on the “Yulejian” platform, a self-built online comprehensive testing platform, were recruited through the voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) clinics of disease control departments and social organizations in Chongqing. A single-group prospective self-controlled before-after study design without a parallel control group was adopted in this study. All participants received a 6-month standardized Internet-based intervention, including targeted health education, risk assessment, HIV self-testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)/post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) services, and online counselling. Core indicators, including AIDS knowledge awareness rate, sexual behavior incidence, condom use rate, drug use rate, and PEP/PrEP utilization rate were employed to evaluate the intervention efficacy on high-risk behaviors in MSM.

After the intervention, the incidence of anal intercourse (74.2% vs 58.0%), heterosexual intercourse (32.4% vs 22.9%), and drug use (9.7% vs 4.5%) were all significantly decreased when compared with the corresponding rates before intervention (P<0.01). While, the consistent condom use rate during anal intercourse (47.4% vs 66.9%), awareness of sexual partners’ HIV status (25.2% vs 44.7%), and PEP medication rate (7.6% vs 36.9%) were all obviously increased (P<0.01).

Our Internet + intervention modes, a four-dimensional linkage system of “infection prevention + regular testing +self-directed learning +peer influence” significantly reduces high-risk behaviors and HIV infection risks among MSM, which providing a digital paradigm for regional HIV prevention and control.