title: Increasing prevalence of HIV and syphilis but decreasing rate of self-reported unprotected anal intercourse among men who had sex with men in Harbin, China: results of five consecutive surveys from 2006 to 2010.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To monitor the prevalence of HIV and syphilis as well as behaviours, a sentinel site for men who have sex with men was established in Harbin in 2002. With additional funding, the sentinel surveillance evolved into annual cross-sectional surveys since 2006.
  
  
  METHODS
  Behavioural and serological data collected in five consecutive cross-sectional surveys were analysed. SPSS 13.0 was applied to compare prevalence of HIV and syphilis as well as behavioural variables over time by demographic variables, bivariate and multivariate analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of HIV and syphilis increased from 1.0% in 2006 to 7.5% in 2010 and from 9.2% in 2006 to 22.4% in 2009, respectively, whereas the rate of unprotected anal intercourse decreased from 61.3% in 2006 to 47.1% in 2010. Syphilis positivity and HIV infection are independently associated with each other across years. The rate of unprotected anal sex remains high although it has decreased over the years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings support an increasing prevalence of HIV and syphilis among men who have sex with men in Harbin. Targeted behavioural intervention and syphilis treatment are urgently needed to prevent the epidemic from growing.
authors.affiliation: Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China, Heilongjiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin, China. wangby42@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Kaili
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hongmei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Yanlin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhiwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Leng
authors.forename: Binyou
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jinkou
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001003:Anal Canal; D001727:Bisexuality; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*