title: The epidemiology of human immunodeficiency virus infection, sexually transmitted infections, and associated risk behaviors among men who have sex with men in the Mekong Subregion and China: implications for policy and programming.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little systematic knowledge is available regarding risk behaviors and the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted infections (STI) in populations of men having sex with men (MSM) in the Mekong Subregion and China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on HIV/STI prevalence and risk behavior of MSM in the region were collected through Internet searches, were summarized and assessed for their policy and programming implications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-four articles, reports and abstracts of research studies were identified for review. High levels of HIV, STI and associated risk behavior were reported among MSM throughout the region. The HIV prevalence among MSM in urban areas varied between 5.5% and 28.3% in Thailand and Cambodia and between 0.0% and 9.4% in Vietnam and China. No HIV/STI prevalence data were available for Lao PDR and Myanmar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levels of HIV/STI prevalence and risk behavior among MSM in the Mekong Subregion and China are high. Continued monitoring and surveillance and targeted preventive interventions are necessary to stop the spread of HIV in this vulnerable population.
authors.affiliation: UNESCO, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Jan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: de Lind van Wijngaarden
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Girault
authors.forename: Swarup
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.forename: Frits
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: van Griensven
mesh_terms: D002160:Cambodia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006291:Health Policy; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D007812:Laos / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D002052:Myanmar / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D047568:Unsafe Sex; D014744:Vietnam / Q000453:epidemiology