To investigate the correlation between online dating and the occurrence of risky sexual behaviors among transnational migrant populations, and to provide scientific evidence for preventing the spread of human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) among transnational migrant populations.

The snowball sampling method was adopted to collect data on transnational migrant populations residing in China. The initial survey seeds were from Yiwu, Guangzhou, Beijing and Hangzhou. Demographic information and data related to sexual behaviors (including the number of casual sexual partners, dating methods, the frequency of condom use, etc.) were collected through questionnaires. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the correlation between dating methods and risky sexual behaviors.

A total of 341 people were surveyed, with 199 people using condoms consistently, accounting for 58.36%; 99 people using condoms sometimes, accounting for 29.03%; and 43 people never using condoms, accounting for 12.61%. 112 people had multiple casual partners, accounting for 32.84%; and 229 people had only one casual partner, accounting for 67.16%. 48 people met their casual partners through online dating, accounting for 14.08%; and 293 people met their casual partners through non-online dating, accounting for 85.92%. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that compared with those who met their casual partners through online dating, those who met their casual partners through non-online dating had a higher probability of using condoms consistently (OR value of 3.358, 95% CI of 1.184-9.522).

Unprotected sexual behaviors among transnational migrant populations are associated with online dating.