HIV Infection, Sexual Behaviors, Sexual Networks, and Drug Use Among Rural Residents in Yunnan Province, China

• Published in: AIDS and behavior 2011-07, Vol.15 (5), p.1017-1025
• Main Authors: Fu, Zhuohua, He, Na, Duan, Song, Jiang, Qingwu, Ye, Runhua, Pu, Yongcheng, Zhao, Genming, Huang, Z. Jennifer, Wong, Frank Y.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome; Adolescent; Adult; China - epidemiology; Condoms; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug Abuse; Drug use; Ethnic Groups; Ethnicity; Female; Health behavior; Health Psychology; HIV; HIV Infections - diagnosis; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Infections - prevention & control; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Infectious Diseases; Male; Males; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Minority & ethnic groups; Minority Groups; Original Paper; Peoples Republic of China; Population Surveillance; Prevalence; Prevention; Public Health; Risk-Taking; Rural areas; Rural Population - statistics & numerical data; Rural populations; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Partners; Sexually transmitted diseases; Social networks; Social Support; Socioeconomic Factors; STD; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - complications; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - epidemiology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1090-7165; 1573-3254
• DOI: 10.1007/s10461-010-9797-6

This cross-sectional study examined HIV prevalence, sexual behaviors, sexual networks, and drug use among 591 participants from a rural community in Yunnan Province, China. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect information about sexual behavior, drug use, and sexual networks. Blood samples were collected and tested for HIV. Of the participants, 52.6% were male and 62.6% were Jingpo minority. The HIV prevalence was 5.5% overall and highest among the Jingpo minority (7.7%). Most participants were sexually experienced and 32.5% had had multiple sex partners. About 18.8% had used drugs, with the highest proportion among the Jingpo minority. HIV infection was independently correlated with drug use among males and with multiple sexual partnerships among females. A total of 336 independent sexual network components (mostly small, linear, and acyclic) were constructed. Eighty-percent were dyads involving two members and 20% involved three to 71 members. Coupled with the promotion of condom use, gender- and network-specific efforts are needed for HIV prevention targeting ethnic minorities in Yunnan.