Sexual Mixing Patterns among Age and Educational Groups in China

Background: Over the last three decades, China has undergone profound socioeconomic transformations and opening to the outside world. These transformations have induced significant changes and variations in sexual norms and behaviors and in the social context of sexual partnering. Age at marriage is increasing; premarital and extramarital sex are becoming increasingly common; and the demand and supply of commercial sex are growing. Many factors determine an increasing number of sexual unions arising from relationships other than marriage. In addition, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have made a comeback after their virtual eradication under Mao period. Although China is still in the early stages of an HIV/AIDS epidemic, concerns are great that the epidemic may soon spread to the general population via heterosexual transmission. Patterns of sexual mixing and the structure of sexual partnering significantly determine high risk practices and variation of infection across population groups. Thus, studying sexual mixing patterns across different types of sexual relationships in China is important and timely.