title: Characteristics of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Women Aged 15-49 Years from 2005 to 2012 in China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the characteristics of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in women aged 15-49 years in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  HIV/AIDS cases from 2005 to 2012 that fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were identified on the Chinese HIV/AIDS case reporting system. Descriptive and spatial analyses were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 103,559 female HIV/AIDS cases were included in our study. Based on the descriptive analysis, between 2005 and 2012, the proportion of heterosexually acquired HIV infection among women (15-49 years) increased rapidly from 35.8% to 87.4%. Approximately 60% of these cases were infected through non-marital heterosexual contact. Among older women (40-49 years), a slightly increasing trend was identified. The spatial analysis detected 'hot spots' in the Xinjiang, Yunnan, Sichuan, Guangxi, and Chongqing provinces. The epidemic trends in these areas were predominately driven by heterosexual transmission.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-marital heterosexual contact is a very important factor in the HIV/AIDS epidemic in women aged 15-49 years, and the HIV infection rate in older women is increasing. Several epidemic hot spots were detected in northwestern and southwestern China. Efficient interventions are needed to control the spread of HIV/AIDS among women living in these areas.
authors.affiliation: National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China.
authors.forename: Xia Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Shandong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan 250014, Shandong China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China.
authors.forename: Yi Bing
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China.
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China.
authors.forename: Fang Fang
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33601, USA.
authors.forename: Yin Ge
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China.
authors.forename: Shan Shan
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bu
authors.affiliation: National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D058872:Epidemics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: AIDS; China; Epidemiology; Women