Fertility desires in young men aged 18–24 living with HIV: a study across five Chinese provinces

Limited data exists concerning the fertility desires of young people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in China, making it difficult to develop appropriate reproductive health service policies and interventions for them. Extensive fieldwork was carried out from April to May 2021 in 10 selected survey sites across five provinces, targeting all young men aged between 18 and 24 years living with HIV. The association between independent variables and fertility desires was determined using Chi-square tests and Multivariate binary logistic regression models. In total, we obtained valid responses from 436 individuals, yielding a response rate of 74.9%. Nearly half of the respondents (48.6%) expressed a future desire to have children. The multivariate logistic regression models pointed to rural registered residence (AOR = 1.595, CI: 1.073, 2.371), heterosexual (AOR = 3.098, CI: 1.523, 6.301) or bisexual orientation (AOR = 2.302, CI: 1.396, 3.794), among others, as significant correlates of fertility desires. This study represents the first exploration of fertility desires among young men living with HIV in China. Evaluating these desires allows healthcare providers to anticipate patients' potential marriage and family plans, thereby facilitating timely provision of reproductive services designed to prevent HIV transmission.