title: Commercial sex behaviours among involuntary male bachelors: findings from a survey of migrants in Xi'an, China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The highly male-biased sex ratio at birth has produced a severe male 'marriage squeeze' in China. However, with an imbalanced sex ratio, the marriage-squeezed or involuntary bachelors can meet their sexual needs only through ways other than marriage.
  
  
  METHODS
  To investigate the commercial sex behaviours of involuntary bachelors, we conducted a survey on reproductive health and family living among male migrant bachelors in Xi'an City, the capital of Shaanxi Province, from December 2009 to January 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of commercial sex use was 37.2% among unmarried men, 30.1% among married but separated men and 17.2% among married and cohabitating men (χ(2) = 31.33; P = 0.000; df = 2). Marital status, knowledge about acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), age and income were associated with the prevalence and frequency of commercial sex behaviours. Condom use was less frequent among involuntary bachelors and was significantly associated with knowledge about AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, the frequency of commercial sex behaviours, marital status and age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The higher prevalence of commercial sex behaviours and the lower frequency of condom use indicate a higher risk of disease from commercial sex among involuntary bachelors, implicating both individual and public health.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Population and Development Studies, School of Public Policy and Administration, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, Shaanxi Province, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xueyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Institute for Population and Development Studies, School of Public Policy and Administration, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, Shaanxi Province, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Shuzhuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: French National Institute for Demographic Studies, INED, Paris 75020, France.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Attané
authors.affiliation: Morrison Institute for Population and Resource Studies, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Marcus W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Feldman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D012309:Risk-Taking; D011477:Sex Work; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: commercial sex behaviours; involuntary bachelors; marriage squeeze; migration; sex imbalance