Objective: To analyze the hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence among 8 populations in 2009-2012 in China, using the HIV sentinels surveillance data.
Methods: Cross-sectional studies had been repeatedly conducted on HIV Sentinel Surveillance with uniformed questionnaire and collection of venous blood specimen among 8 populations including drug users (DUs), men who have sex with men(MSM), female sex workers(FSW), male STD clinic attendees, male long distance truck drivers, male mobile populations, pregnant women and young students from April to June 2009 to 2012 on the yearly base. Blood testing for HIV, syphilis and HCV infections have been routinely performed on all participants of 8 populations recruited during the surveillance period.
Results: HCV prevalence among drug users had been relatively high, between 40.0%-43.0% in 2009-2012. HCV prevalence of injection drug users(IDUs)showing a slight increasing trend in the past four years from 55.0% in 2009 to 65.0% in 2012. HCV prevalence rates among other 7 populations maintained low remained less than 1.0% in the past three years.
Conclusion: Data from sentinel surveillance programs showed that HCV prevalence of DUs maintained high but the other 7 populations at low levels in the HIV sentinel surveillance areas in China. Blood-borne was the most common transmission pathways of HCV. IDU was one of the predominant models of HCV transmission in China and continued to fuel the HCV epidemics throughout the country.