HIV testing in re-education through labour camps in Guangxi Autonomous Region, China (a cross-sectional survey).
OBJECTIVE
HIV testing is mandatory in re-education-through-labour camps (laojiaosuo) in China yet no studies have reported on the process.


METHODS
The survey response rate was 100% although 29 detainees were excluded because they were under 18 years of age. A cross-sectional face-to-face survey was conducted in three labour camps in Guangxi, located in the south-western region of China.


RESULTS
Of the 755 detainees surveyed, 725 (96%) reported having a blood test in the labour camps of whom 493 (68%) thought this included an HIV test. 61 detainees self-reported they were HIV infected, their status confirmed by medical records, if available. Of these, 53 (87%) recalled receiving post-test HIV education, and 15 (25%) were currently receiving HIV antiretroviral therapy. Pretest education on HIV was provided to 233/725 (32%) detainees. The study further reports on detainees' reactions and feelings towards non-disclosure and disclosure of their HIV test results in the labour camps.


CONCLUSIONS
Mandatory testing is almost universal in the labour camps although a proportion of detainees were unaware that this included an HIV test. HIV test results should be disclosed to all labour camp detainees to reduce their distress of not knowing and prevent misconceptions about their HIV status. Labour camps provide another opportunity to implement universal treatment ('Test and Treat') to prevent the spread of HIV.
The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Lorraine
L
Yap
The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Joanne
J
Reekie
Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, Guangxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning, China.
Wei
W
Liu
Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, Guangxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning, China.
Yi
Y
Chen
National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), Beijing, China.
Zunyou
Z
Wu
President's Research Project Group, WZB Berlin Social Research Center, Berlin, Germany The Centre for Population Health Research, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
Jianghong
J
Li
The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia Research Center for Public Health, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Lei
L
Zhang
The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Handan
H
Wand
The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia Sydney Sexual Health Centre, Sydney Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Basil
B
Donovan
The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Tony
T
Butler
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D037001:Directive Counseling; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018580:Mandatory Testing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008403:Mass Screening; D011329:Prisoners / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014342:Truth Disclosure / Q000941:ethics
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents
DEVELOPING WORLD; EPIDEMIOLOGY (GENERAL); HIV; PRISONERS; TESTING