Effects of Case Management on Risky Sexual Behaviors and Syphilis among HIV-infected Men Who Have Sex with Men in China: A Randomized Controlled Study

BACKGROUND The prevalence of syphilis is very high in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive men who have sex with men (MSM), and effective interventions are needed to educate HIV-positive individuals about the behavioral and biological risk factors. Therefore, we developed a standard case management process and conducted a randomized controlled study to investigate the impact on risky sexual behaviors and syphilis in HIV-positive MSM. METHODS MSM (n = 220) were enrolled and randomized to the case management intervention group and the control group between May 2016 and January 2017. The control group received routine HIV related care. In addition to routine HIV related care, those in the intervention group regularly received extended services from a well-trained case manager. Epidemiological information was collected during the baseline face-to-face interviews by a trained investigator. Serological tests for syphilis and assessments of risky sexual behaviors were performed at baseline and 6 and 12 months after the initiation of treatment. RESULTS The syphilis incidence rates in the intervention and control groups were 11.3 per 100 person-years and 20.6 per 100 person-years respectively. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio (95% CI) for syphilis in case management group was 0.34 (0.14-0.87). The percentages of participants who resumed risky sexual behaviors in both groups were significantly reduced (p < 0.05), but did not significantly differ between two groups. CONCLUSIONS A case management intervention reduced the incidence of syphilis in HIV-positive MSM. We should further increase the content of case management on the basis of providing routine HIV related care to those people.