Detection of Acute and Established HIV Infections in Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinics in Guangxi, China: Implications for Screening and Prevention of HIV Infection.
BACKGROUND
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has spread throughout China and to some degree has penetrated the general heterosexual population in some regions.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey of 11,461 sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic attendees in 8 cities in Guangxi, China, was conducted for syphilis and for acute and established HIV infections.


RESULTS
The prevalence of acute and established HIV infections was 1.2% among the participants. Five acute (preseroconversion) HIV infections were detected. Multivariate analysis showed that HIV infection was independently related to unmarried status (odds ratio [OR], 1.73 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.00-2.99), less education (OR for less than primary school, 4.21 [90% CI, 1.21-14.58]), residence in city A (OR, 11.48 [95% CI, 2.05-64.31]) or city B (OR, 7.93 [95% CI, 1.75-35.91]), working in the entertainment industry (OR, 3.98 [95% CI, 1.14-13.88]), injection drug use (OR, 25.09 [95% CI, 10.43-60.39]), no condom use during most recent sexual intercourse (OR, 4.97 [95% CI, 1.38-17.88]), and syphilitic infection (OR, 1.91 [95% CI, 1.03-3.56]).


CONCLUSIONS
HIV prevalence in STD clinics is significantly greater than that in the general population, and subjects were identified who would be missed by conventional surveillance. China's nationwide system of public STD clinics, which reach down to the township level, should be used for HIV control programs.
Chen
Xiang-Sheng
XS
National Center for STD Control, Nanjing, 210042, China. chenxs@vip.163.com
Yin
Yue-Ping
YP
Tucker
Joseph D
JD
Gao
Xing
X
Cheng
Feng
F
Wang
Tian-Fu
TF
Wang
Hong-Chun
HC
Huang
Pei-Yong
PY
Cohen
Myron S
MS
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013587:Syphilis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology