title: Prevalence and correlates of HIV and syphilis infections among men who have sex with men in seven provinces in China with historically low HIV prevalence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess HIV and syphilis infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Chinese regions with historically low HIV prevalence.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 20 cities or districts across 4 provinces, 2 autonomous regions, and a municipality. Socioeconomic/behavioral risk factors were measured. Blood samples were tested for HIV via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot confirmation and syphilis via rapid plasma reagin and passive particle agglutination test for detection of Treponema pallidum Antibodies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 4983 MSM participants, 2.9% were HIV infected (range: 0%-15.1%) and 9.8% were syphilis infected (1.3%-29.3%). Syphilis infection was associated with older age [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.9; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.0 to 4.3], not being married or cohabiting (AOR = 0.7; 95% CI: 0.5-0.9), less education (AOR = 1.3; 95% CI: 1.0 to 1.7), inconsistent condom use during anal sex with men (AOR = 1.4; 95% CI: 1.0 to 1.8), and living in inner Mongolia (AOR = 23.9; 95% CI: 9.7 to 58.6), Jilin (AOR = 7.9; 95% CI: 3.4 to 18.3), Heilongjiang (AOR = 7.1; 95% CI: 3.1 to 16.6), Liaoning (AOR = 6.1; 95% CI: 2.6 to 14.2), or Chongqing (AOR = 5.9; 95% CI: 2.5 to 13.9). HIV infection was associated with older age (AOR = 3.7; 95% CI: 2.0 to 6.7), less education (AOR = 2.9; 95% CI: 1.8 to 4.7), inconsistent condom use during anal sex with men (AOR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.2 to 3.2), syphilis infection (AOR = 2.1; 95% CI: 1.3 to 3.4), and living either in Liaoning (AOR = 8.2; 95% CI: 1.1 to 61.4) or Chongqing (AOR = 57.2; 95% CI: 7.9 to 414.4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HIV and syphilis have reached alarming rates in China's MSM population, thus, appropriate responses are urgently needed.
authors.affiliation: National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Jiangping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Chunmei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Katherine L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Sten H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Vermund
authors.forename: Yujiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D013587:Syphilis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult