HIV prevalence among injection drug users in rural Guangxi China.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the HIV-1 seroprevalence, risk behaviors and demographic characteristics associated with HIV-1 infection among injection drug users (IDU) in rural Guangxi, China.


METHODS
Between July and November 2002, 702 IDU were screened for HIV-1 antibody through community outreach in rural Guangxi, China for enrollment in an HIV sero-incidence study.


METHODS
A total of 702 active high-risk IDU were screened. High-risk injection was defined as anyone who reported injecting drugs at least three times per week in the last month or injected drugs with shared equipment on at least three occasions in the last 3 months.


METHODS
HIV-1 antibody testing with confirmation by Western blot was performed on all subjects. Demographic and risk assessment survey data were collected at screening from everyone whose baseline HIV antibody status was known.


RESULTS
HIV-1 antibody prevalence among 702 IDU at baseline was 25% with a median age of 26.7 years (18.2-43.2). Based on a multivariate logistic regression model using risk factors identified in univariate analyses, the following risk factors were associated significantly with an increase in risk for HIV seropositivity: age > 26 years (OR 1.50; 95% CI 1.04, 2.17), sharing of rinse water (OR = 1.24; 95% CI 1.09, 1.40), not having sex in the last 6 months (OR = 1.62; 95% CI 1.08, 2.43).


CONCLUSIONS
HIV infection among IDU in Guangxi, one of China's major HIV epidemic regions, is high and the infection occurs predominantly among older IDU males who share rinse water.
Liu
Wei
W
Guangxi Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning, China.
Chen
Jie
J
Rodolph
Michelle
M
Beauchamp
Geetha
G
Mâsse
Benoît
B
Wang
Shaoping
S
Li
Rongjian
R
Ruan
Yuhua
Y
Zhou
Feng
F
Leung
Man-kit
MK
Lai
Shenghan
S
Shao
Yiming
Y
Jackson
J Brooks
JB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016485:Needle Sharing; D015995:Prevalence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology*