Sexually transmitted infections among migrants' wives remaining in rural homes - a pilot study of the remaining women in rural Wuhan, China.
The growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in China appears to be related to the vast rural-to-urban migration, with rural migrants serving as a "living bridge" for the spread of HIV. The purpose of this study is to examine whether migrants' wives remaining in rural homes play a role in spreading the virus. Participants were recruited from 12 rural villages. Social and demographic factors, sexual behaviour, and HIV/AIDS knowledge were assessed using survey questionnaire. Reproductive tract infection (RTI; syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, vaginalis trichomonas, and candidiasis) were assessed using blood and vaginal specimens. Among the total 63 participants, 28 (44.4%) were wives remaining behind while their husbands migrated to a city ("remaining") and 35 were women whose spouses remained in the rural setting ("comparison"). The reported median duration (inter-quarter range (IQR)) since the last episode of sex with husband was nine months (IQR: 7-15) for the remaining women and three months (IQR: 2-7) for the comparison women (Z= 3.95,p< 0.01). RTI was 32.1% for remaining women and 17.1% for the comparison women (Odds ratio = 2.28, 95%CI: 0.70-7.48,p= 0.165). The high rate of RTI suggests that remaining women in rural areas may be at increased risk for acquiring HIV infection compared to women whose husbands remained in rural homes.
Wuhan Family Planning and Health Commission , Wuhan , China.
Shanbo
S
Wei
Wuhan Centers for Disease Prevention and Control , Wuhan , China ; School of Medicine, Wayne State University , Detroit , MI , USA.
Xinguang
X
Chen
Wuhan Institute of Sexually Transmitted Diseases , Wuhan , China.
Gang
G
Li
Wuhan Centers for Disease Prevention and Control , Wuhan , China.
Wang
W
Zhou
Wuhan Institute of Sexually Transmitted Diseases , Wuhan , China.
Weidong
W
Shi
Wuhan Centers for Disease Prevention and Control , Wuhan , China.
Xia
X
Wang
China; HIV risk behaviour; RTI; migrant workers; rural women