Trend on HIV prevalence and risk behaviors among men who have sex with men in China from 2010 to 2013 / 中华流行病学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand the trends on HIV and syphilis infections, as well as on risk behaviors and intervention among MSM in China from 2010 to 2013 so as to provide information for the development of intervention strategies for MSM.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Study population involved MSM who were recruited for the national HIV sentinel surveillance between 2010 and 2013. Demographic information, HIV related risk behaviors, and results on HIV and syphilis infections were described and trend analysis was performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Between 2010 and 2013, the total number of MSM under survey was 149 848. As for sources of the studied population, 12.3% of them were from public bathrooms (Group A), 30.1% from internet (Group B), and 57.5% were others (Group C). Proportions of three groups were similar between 2010 and 2013. The proportion of always using condom in the last six months increased from 30.2% to 37.8%, from 34.7% to 42.9% and from 35.3% to 43.1% in group A, B or C (trendP < 0.01), from 2010 to 2013. The proportion of using condom in group A was the lowest among the three groups. The prevalence rate of HIV increased from 7.8% in 2010 to 9.2% in 2013 among group A, from 5.0% in 2010 to 6.8% in 2013 among group B, from 5.6% in 2010 to 6.5% in 2013 among group C(trendP < 0.01). The prevalence rate of syphilis decreased from 13.2% in 2010 to 9.5% in 2013 among group A, from 6.1% in 2010 to 5.7% in 2013 among group B, from 8.7% in 2010 to 6.2% in 2013 among group C (trendP < 0.01). In this MSM population, 77.1% of them were at age 21-40, 9.4% were at age 41-50 and 2.8% were older than 50 years of age. Both the prevalence rates of HIV and syphilis were the highest-10.1% and 13.6%, among age group of over 50s, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HIV prevalence among MSM increased rapidly in the last four years, especially in older age groups and from public bathrooms. More intervention efforts should be targeting on MSM with the above mentioned characters.</p>