title: A syndemic of psychosocial problems places the MSM (men who have sex with men) population at greater risk of HIV infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The MSM (Men who have sex with men) population suffers from very high rates of concurrent psychosocial problems. Together, these problems comprise a syndemic that increases the risk of HIV infection for this community. The precise mechanisms through which this syndemic can raise the likelihood of HIV infection warrant further exploration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 522 MSM were enrolled via a multiframe sampling approach and were asked to report psychosocial problems, risky sexual behaviors and HIV test results. A count of psychosocial health problems was calculated to test the additive relationship of these factors on HIV risk. Adjusting analysis and restriction analysis were used to determine a proposed intermediate pathway. Psychosocial health problems are highly concurrent and intercorrelated among urban MSM. Greater numbers of health problems are significantly and positively associated with HIV infection, which is mediated, at least partially, by risky sexual behaviors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MSM experience concurrent psychosocial health problems that correlate with HIV infection in this community. We recommend the development of coping strategies for this population to deal with these psychosocial problems, both in prevention research and health policy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Wu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jie
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ciyong
authors.forename: Deng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xueqing
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lingyao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult