Risk factors for syphilis and prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B and C among men who have sex with men in Beijing, China: implications for HIV prevention.
To examine the correlates for syphilis and the prevalence for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C among men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) in Beijing, China. A total of 541 MSM was recruited using peer-referral, community outreach, and Internet. Questionnaire-based interviews provided information including, demographics, sexual and other risk behaviors. HIV prevalence was 4.8%, syphilis 19.8%, HCV 0.4% and HBsAg 6.5%. The median number of lifetime male sex partners was ten. In the past 3 months, 20.7% drank alcohol > or =1 times per week. In the past month, 21.3 and 14.6% had unprotected anal intercourse with regular and casual male sex partners, respectively. Syphilis infection was associated with less education, alcohol use, finding male sex partners through bathhouses/public washrooms/parks, and diagnoses of sexual transmitted diseases (STDs). Syphilis is now epidemic among Beijing's MSM. Prevention efforts are urgent as HIV prevalence is already near 5%. Education, condom promotion, STD control, and alcohol-related intervention are needed urgently.
Ruan
Yuhua
Y
Epidemiology and Biostatistics Branch, Division of Virology and Immunology, State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, NCAIDS, Chinese CDC, Beijing 100050, People's Republic of China. ruanyuhua92@gmail.com
Luo
Fengji
F
Jia
Yujiang
Y
Li
Xinxu
X
Li
Qingchun
Q
Liang
Hongyuan
H
Zhang
Xiaoxi
X
Li
Dongliang
D
Shi
Wei
W
Freeman
Jennifer M
JM
Vermund
Sten H
SH
Shao
Yiming
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012747:Sexual Partners; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult