HIV incidence and risk factors in Chinese young men who have sex with men--a prospective cohort study

PLoS One. 2014 May 30;9(5):e97527. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0097527. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Objectives: To assess HIV incidence and its associated risk factors among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in urban areas, China.

Design: The study used a prospective cohort study design and standard diagnostic tests.

Methods: A twelve-month prospective cohort study was conducted among YMSM (18-25 years old) in 8 large cities in China. The participants were recruited via snowball sampling. A total of 1102 HIV-negative YMSM completed baseline assessment, 878 YMSM participants completed 6-month follow-up, and 902 completed 12-month follow-up. HIV was screened by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and confirmed with Western Blot. Syphilis was screened via rapid plasma reagent and confirmed by treponema pallidum particle agglutination assay.

Results: 78 HIV seroconversions were identified within 1168.4 person-year observations yielding an incidence rate of 6.7 per 100 person-years. HIV seroconversion was associated with non-student status (RR = 2.61, 90% CI = 1.3-5.26), low HIV transmission knowledge (RR = 8.87, 90% CI = 2.16-36.43), and syphilis infection (RR = 5.04, 90% CI = 2.57-9.90).

Conclusions: Incidence of HIV among YMSM is high in urban areas of China. Interventions measures are required to contain the HIV epidemic within this population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • China / epidemiology
  • Cities / epidemiology
  • Cohort Studies
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • HIV Seropositivity / epidemiology
  • Homosexuality, Male / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the National Science and Technology Major Project on Prevention and Treatment of Major Infectious Diseases including AIDS and Viral Hepatitis from the Chinese Ministry of Health (Grant No. 2008ZX10001-016). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.