title: Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among long-distance truck drivers in Tongling, China.
abstract: Little is known about sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, among truck drivers in China. A cross-sectional study was conducted among truck drivers in Tongling of Anhui Province. A total of 550 truck drivers were interviewed with a structured questionnaire, and blood samples were collected and tested for HIV, syphilis, and herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), and urine specimens for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis. Prevalence was 10.6% for C. trachomatis and 8.1% for N. gonorrhoeae. Antibodies for syphilis were found in 0.7% and for HSV-2 in 4.4%, and none was positive for HIV. About 92 (17.4%) truck drivers had at least one STI. There was no statistically significant association between sociodemographic, occupation or behavioural variables and the presence of a positive test for any STI. Our study suggests a high prevalence of STIs, particularly bacterial infections, among the truck drivers, indicating the need for health education, behavioural change interventions and STI care services in this population.
authors.affiliation: National Center for STD Control, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College Institute of Dermatology, Nanjing, China. chenxs@vip.163.com
authors.forename: Xiang-Sheng
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yue-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Xiang-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Guo-Jun
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Wen-Ying
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Poumerol
authors.forename: Mei-Qin
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Shou-Qiang
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Guo-Cheng
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015231:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014186:Transportation