Relationship Between Syphilis and HIV Infections Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Beijing, China

• Published in: Sexually transmitted diseases 2007-08, Vol.34 (8), p.592-597
• Main Authors: RUAN, YUHUA, LI, DONGLIANG, LI, XINXU, QIAN, HAN-ZHU, SHI, WEI, ZHANG, XIAOXI, YANG, ZHENKAI, ZHANG, XIAOYAN, WANG, CHEN, LIU, YINGJIE, YU, MIAO, XIAO, DONG, HAO, CHUN, XING, HUI, HONG, KUNXUE, SHAO, YIMING
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the genital system; Biological and medical sciences; China - epidemiology; Community Networks; Cross-Sectional Studies; Editorial; Gays & lesbians; General aspects; HIV; HIV Infections - blood; HIV Infections - complications; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Infections - prevention & control; Homosexuality, Male; Human bacterial diseases; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human infectious diseases. Experimental studies and models; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Risk-Taking; Sexually transmitted diseases; STD; Syphilis; Syphilis - blood; Syphilis - complications; Syphilis - epidemiology; Syphilis - prevention & control; Urban Health; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids
• ISSN: 0148-5717; 1537-4521
• DOI: 10.1097/01.olq.0000253336.64324.ef

Background: Little is known about risk of HIV and other STDs among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. Objective: To survey the prevalence and risk factors of HIV and syphilis and evaluate correlation of two infections among MSM in the Chinese capital city. Methods: A community-based sample of 526 MSM was recruited in 2005 through Internet advertising, community outreach, and peer referring. Interviewer-administered interviews were conducted to collect information on demographics and sexual and other risk behaviors, and blood samples were collected to test for syphilis and HIV infections. Results: Seventeen (3.2%) participants were HIV seropositive and 59 (11.2%) syphilis seropositive. Sixty-four percent of participants were migrants who did not have Beijing residence. Forty percent had >10 lifetime male sex partners and 28.8% reported having ever had sex with women. Consistent condom use with primary male sex partners ranged from 21% to 24%, with nonprimary male sex partners from 35% to 42%, and with female partners around 33%. Illicit drug use was not common; only 2.5% reported using Ecstasy or ketamine in the past 6 months. Multivariate logistic regression analyses demonstrated that >10 lifetime male sex partners were independently associated with seropositivity of both syphilis (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1-3.4) and HIV (OR, 4.3; 95% CI, 1.4-13.6). In addition, HIV infection is significantly associated with syphilis seropositivity (OR, 3.8; 95% CI, 1.3-10.8). Conclusions: High mobility, multiple sexual partners, and high prevalence of unprotected sex behaviors and syphilis infection suggest a potential rapid spread of HIV in Chinese MSM.