Risk compensation was an important concern of voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) promotion campaigns. No study investigated risk compensation following VMMC among male sexually transmitted diseases patients (MSTDP). A cross-sectional survey interviewed 308 uncircumcised MSTDP in Shenzhen, China. 26.9% of them intended to perform at least one of the five types of risk compensation behaviors following VMMC. In the summary stepwise model, provision of incorrect response to HIV/sexually transmitted diseases knowledge items (multivariate odds ratios (ORm) = 2.30), genital herpes infection (ORm = 3.19), Risk Reduction Score for Unprotected Sex, and Negative Condom Attitudes Scale (ORm = 1.13) were significantly associated with behavioral intention to perform at least one type of risk compensation behavior following VMMC. The results provided a framework for developing related interventions. Prevention of risk compensation should be an essential component of VMMC promotion for all MSTDP, irrespective of their intention for VMMC.
Keywords: Behavioral intention of risk compensation; China; attitude toward condom use; male sexually transmitted diseases patients; risk perceptions; voluntary medical male circumcision.