Prevalence of syphilis and HIV among drug users and the risk of sexual transmission to other groups in Kunming, China, 2010

Abstract

Objective To measure behavioral and demographic characteristics of drug users,syphilis and HIV infection,assess associated factors.Methods Face to face structure questionnaire-based interviews were conducted in Kunming detoxifieation center,blood samples were drawn for sero-antibody tests.Results Of 872 drug users,98.9％ use heroin,8.9％ ever used club drugs (Including Amphetamine,Methamphetamine,Ketamine,MAMD),74.1％ ever injected drugs with 27.3％ ever shared needles/syringes; 67.3％live with regular sex partners,with 10.5％ of consistent condom use during sex,23.7％ ever involved in commercial sex,with only 43.7％ of consistent condom use during sex.Regular sex relationship didn' t lead to less commercial sex nor more condom use (allx2＜1.83,all P＞0.4).4.5％(39/872)of all participants and 9.9％(12/122) of female drug users were syphilis infected.Syphilis infection independently associated with female (OR:3.8,95％CI:1.8-8.2),non-local drug users (OR:2.9,95％CI:1.4-6.1,local vs.non-local),low level of education (OR:2.6,95％CI:1.3-5.5,illiterate or primary school vs.middle school).Of all participants,14.3％(125/872) were HIV infected and injection drug use and needie-sharing were associated factors.Conclusion:High prevalence of syphilis and HIV were found among Kunming drug users,accompanied by common risky sex behaviors.The risk of HIV sexual transmission to regular sex partner and other populations was high.To curb syphilis or HIV prevalent in Kunming.timelysyphilis treatment,HIV cases management and enhanced safe sexual behavioral intervetions that targeted drug users were urgently needed. Key words: Drug users; syphilis; Human Immunodeficiency Virus ; risky sexual behaviors; associated factors