Background. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has rapidly spread among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China in recent years; the magnitude of the epidemic is unclear. We sought to test 3 hypotheses: (1) The prevalence of both HIV and syphilis among MSM in China is high, (2) the 2 epidemics each have unique geographical distributions, and (3) demographic and sexual behavior characteristics are different among segments of the MSM population in China.

Methods. A total of 47 231 MSM from 61 cities in China participated in a cross-sectional survey conducted from February 2008 to September 2009. Demographic and behavioral data were collected and analyzed and blood samples tested for HIV and syphilis. Three subgroups among the broader MSM sample were described. Main outcome measures were HIV and syphilis prevalence.

Results. An overall prevalence of 4.9% (2314/47 231; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.7%–5.1%) for HIV and 11.8% (5552/47 231; 95% CI, 11.5%–12.0%) for syphilis was found. Syphilis-positive MSM had the highest HIV prevalence, 12.5% (693/5552; 95% CI, 11.6%–13.4%). However, correlations between HIV and syphilis prevalence were found in only 3 of 6 geographical regions (Northwest: r = 0.82, P = .0253; East: r = 0.78, P = .0004; and South-central: r = 0.63, P = .0276). Three subgroups—nonlocal MSM, Internet-using MSM, and female-partnering MSM—were found to have different profiles of characteristics and behaviors.

Conclusions. HIV and syphilis prevalences among MSM in China are high and the 2 epidemics are largely separate geographically. Three segments of the Chinese MSM population each have different demographic and sexual risk “profiles” that suggest high potential for bridging infection across geographies, generations, and sexes.

HIV and syphilis prevalence among men who have sex with men: a cross-sectional survey of 61 cities in China

Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common surgical complications in the world, particularly in developing countries. This study aimed to estimate the incidence and distribution of SSI in mainland China. Eighty-four prospective observational studies (82 surveillance studies, 1 nested case control study, and 1 cohort study) were selected for inclusion in this meta-analysis. The average incidence of SSI in mainland China was 4.5% (95% CI: 3.1-5.8) from 2001 to 2012 and has decreased significantly in recent years. The remote western regions had a higher incidence of 4.6% (95% CI: 4.0-5.3). The most common surgical procedure was abdominal surgery (8.3%, 95% CI: 6.5-10.0). SSI occurred frequently in the elderly (5.1%, 95% CI: 2.2-8.0), patients confined to hospital for over 2 weeks (5.7%, 95% CI: 0.9-10.0), superficial incision wounds (5.6%, 95% CI: 4.4-6.8), dirty wounds (8.7%, 95% CI: 6.9-10.6), operations lasting for over 2 hours (7.3%, 95% CI: 4.9-9.7), general anaesthesia operations (4.7%, 95% CI: 2.7-6.6), emergency surgeries (5.9%, 95% CI: 4.2-7.7), and non-intra-medication operations (7.4%, 95% CI: 1.0-13.7).

/pdf/the-incidence-and-distribution-of-surgical-site-infection-in-3ka2h5qjy9.pdf

The Incidence and Distribution of Surgical Site Infection in Mainland China: A Meta-Analysis of 84 Prospective Observational Studies

The prevalence of HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM) has become a significant public health challenge. The aim was to comprehensively estimate the national prevalence of HIV among MSM and its time trends through a large-scale systematic analysis. Systematic search of Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang Data databases without language restriction for studies on the prevalence of HIV among MSM published before Dec.31, 2018. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they were published in the peer-reviewed literature and used validated assessment methods to assess the prevalence of HIV among MSM. Estimates were pooled using random-effects analysis. Data were extracted from 355 cross-sectional studies (571,328 individuals) covered 59 cities from 30 provinces and municipalities of China. The overall national prevalence of HIV among MSM from 2001 to 2018 was estimated to be 5.7% (95% CI: 5.4–6.1%), with high between-study heterogeneity (I2 = 98.0%, P <  0.001). Our study showed an increased tendency in the HIV prevalence as time progressed by meta-regression analysis (I2 = 95.9%, P <  0.0001). HIV prevalence was the highest in those aged 50 years and older with HIV prevalence of 19.3% (95%CI: 13.1-27.4%, N = 13). HIV was more prevalent in the illiterate population (16.8%), than in those who had received an education. Although the internet was a major venue for Chinese MSM seeking male sex partners (35.6, 95%CI: 32.3-39.9%, N = 101), seeking MSM in bathhouses/saunas had the highest associated prevalence of HIV (13.4, 95%CI: 10.3-17.1%, N = 22). The HIV prevalence among MSM varied by location: compared with other regions in China, HIV was highly prevalent among MSM in the southwest (10.7, 95%CI: 9.3-12.2%, N = 91). Compared to participants who sometimes or always used condoms, participants who had never used a condom in the past 6 months had a higher risk of HIV infection, with odds ratios of 0.1 (95%CI: 0.08-0.14). Our analysis provided reliable estimates of China’s HIV burden among MSM, which appears to present an increasing national public health challenge. Effective government responses are needed to address this challenge and include the implementation of HIV prevention.

/pdf/the-prevalence-of-hiv-among-msm-in-china-a-large-scale-3vrnp6rp1d.pdf

The prevalence of HIV among MSM in China: a large-scale systematic analysis

Barriers to HIV testing and HIV care and treatment pose significant challenges to HIV prevention among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. We carried out a qualitative study to identify barriers and facilitators to HIV testing and treatment among Chinese MSM. In 2012, seven focus group (FG) discussions were conducted with 49 MSM participants in Nanjing, China. Purposive sampling was used to recruit a diverse group of MSM participants. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect FG data. Major barriers to testing included gay- and HIV-related stigma and discrimination, relationship type and partner characteristics, low perception of risk or threat, HIV is incurable or equals death, concerns of confidentiality, unaware that testing is offered for free, and name-based testing. Key facilitators of testing included engaging in high-risk sex, sense of responsibility for partner, collectivism, testing as a part of standard/routine medical care, MSM-friendly medical personnel, increased acceptance of gay/bisexual men by the general public, legal recognition and protection of homosexuals, and home self-testing. Barriers to treatment included negative coping, nondisclosure to families, misconceptions of domestically produced antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) and the benefits of treatment, and costs associated with long-term treatment. Facilitators of treatment included sense of hopefulness that a cure would be found, the cultural value of longevity, peer social support and professional psychological counseling, affordable and specialized treatment and care, and reduced HIV-related stigma and discrimination. Finally, for both testing and treatment, more educational and promotional activities within MSM communities and among the general public are needed.

/pdf/accessing-hiv-testing-and-treatment-among-men-who-have-sex-3yqihb9m9i.pdf

Accessing HIV testing and treatment among men who have sex with men in China: a qualitative study.

Introduction
Stigma constitutes a critical challenge to the rising rates of HIV among Chinese men who have sex with men (MSM). It reduces willingness to disclose one’s sexual orientation and can lead to concurrent sexual partnerships. Disclosure decisions are also affected by cultural norms that place pressures on sons to marry. In this manuscript, we characterize how stigma and cultural factors influenced Chinese MSM’s decisions around disclosure and marriage. We seek to show that MSM’s actions were motivated by moral considerations, even when those choices posed HIV transmission risks.

/pdf/charting-a-moral-life-the-influence-of-stigma-and-filial-1m3o8cfz17.pdf

Charting a Moral Life: The Influence of Stigma and Filial Duties on Marital Decisions among Chinese Men who Have Sex with Men

BACKGROUND: Men who have sex with men (MSM) have now become one of the priority populations for prevention and control of HIV pandemic in China. Information of HIV incidence among MSM is important to describe the spreading of the infection and predict its trends in this population. We reviewed the published literature on the incidence of HIV infection among MSM in China. METHODS: We identified relevant studies by use of a comprehensive strategy including searches of Medline and two Chinese electronic publication databases from January 2005 to September 2010. Point estimate of random effects incidence with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) of HIV infection was carried out using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software. Subgroup analyses were examined separately stratified by study design and geographic location. RESULTS: Twelve studies were identified including three cohort studies and nine cross-sectional studies. The subgroup analyses revealed that the sub-overall incidence estimates were 3.5% (95% CI 1.7%-5.3%) and 6.7% (95% CI 4.8%-8.6%) for cohort and cross-sectional studies respectively (difference between the sub-overalls Q = 5.54 p = 0.02); and 8.3% (95% CI 6.9%-9.7%) and 4.6% (95% CI 2.4%-6.9%) for studies in Chongqing and other areas respectively (difference between the sub-overalls Q = 7.58 p<0.01). Syphilis infection (RR = 3.33 p<0.001) multiple sex partnerships (RR = 2.81 p<0.001) and unprotected receptive anal intercourse in the past six months (RR = 3.88 p = 0.007) represented significant risk for HIV seroconversion. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this meta-analysis indicate that HIV incidence is substantial in MSM in China. High incidence of HIV infection and unique patterns of sexual risk behaviors in this population serve as a call for action that should be answered with the innovative social and public health intervention strategies and development of biological prevention strategies.

/pdf/hiv-incidence-among-men-who-have-sex-with-men-in-china-a-237gnkgzn1.pdf

Baoxi Wang

Papers

HIV incidence among men who have sex with men in China: a meta-analysis of published studies.