Objective: To analyze the epidemic characteristics and risk factors of HIV/AIDS in Guangdong province and to search for measure of control.
Methods: Data from routine, sentinel, behavior and laboratory surveillance programs were collected and evaluated.
Results: Since the first HIV case in IDUs was found by the end of 1996, the number of HIV/AIDS has increased by 86.2% yearly and the proportion of cases infected through IDU increased rapidly from 1.4% before 1996 to 91.0% in 1999. HIV-1 C subtype in IDUs accounted for 61.3%.
Conclusions: Number of HIV/AIDS cases has increased rapidly in recent years in Guangdong. The major transmission route was through IDU. It was important to prevent HIV/AIDS spreading from IDUs to sex workers then to the general population through behavioral surveillance and intervention.