Epidemiological characteristics and latent class analysis of non-marital heterosexual behaviors among human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome individuals in Jiangmen, Guangdong province between 2015 and 2017

Abstract

Objective: To study the epidemiological characteristics and latent classes of non-marital heterosexual transmission among human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) individuals in Jiangmen, Guangdong province between 2015 and 2017. Methods: HIV/AIDS cases from Chinese HIV/AIDS Comprehensive Response Information Management System were collected from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2017. Inclusion criteria of HIV/AIDS were heterosexual transmission, non-marital heterosexual contact and older than 15 years. Exclusion criteria were homosexual contact, repeated reports, injecting drugs, current address in the non-Jiangmen area and not classified non-marital heterosexual contact. A total of 665 HIV/AIDS cases were included in this study. The general demographic characteristics (gender, age, ethnicity, education, occupation, etc.), floating population characteristics, HIV high-risk behaviors, HIV testing and other information were collected from database. Chi square test was used to compare the infection status of HIV/AIDS with different characteristics through commercial channels, and the latent class model was used to analyze the latent classes of HIV/AIDS. Results: Among 665 cases, the age was (48.73±15.61) years old. And 46.5% (309/665) cases were married and 73.8% (491/665) were male. Four classes were identified as heterogeneous sub-population by the latent class analysis: the first class occupied 40.13% (267 cases) with feature of nearly equal proportion of males and females and higher proportion of non-service industry workers; the second class occupied 37.40% (248 cases) with features of more than 46 years old, nearly all males, high proportion of farmers, high proportion of marital status, low education and the low propensity of floating; the third class occupied 11.90% (79 cases) with feature of cases from voluntary HIV testing and counseling in center for disease control and prevention; the forth class occupied 10.57% (70 cases) with the feature of less 45 years old, high proportion of service industry workers, no marital history and higher education. Conclusions: HIV/AIDS transmitted by non-marital heterosexual sex in Jiangmen city during 2015-2017 could be divided into four latent classes according to epidemic characteristics, which could provide appropriate classified guidance for AIDS prevention and treatment.