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Meta-Analysis
. 2011;6(8):e22768.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022768. Epub 2011 Aug 15.

HIV and syphilis co-infection increasing among men who have sex with men in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Eric P F Chow  1 , David P Wilson, Lei Zhang
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

HIV and syphilis co-infection increasing among men who have sex with men in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Eric P F Chow et al. PLoS One. 2011.

Abstract

Background: This study aims to estimate the magnitude and changing trends of HIV, syphilis and HIV-syphilis co-infections among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China during 2003-2008 through a systematic review of published literature.

Methodology/principal findings: Chinese and English literatures were searched for studies reporting HIV and syphilis prevalence among MSM from 2003 to 2008. The prevalence estimates were summarized and analysed by meta-analyses. Meta-regression was used to identify the potential factors that are associated with high heterogeneities in meta-analysis. Seventy-one eligible articles were selected in this review (17 in English and 54 in Chinese). Nationally, HIV prevalence among MSM increased from 1.3% during 2003-2004 to 2.4% during 2005-2006 and to 4.7% during 2007-2008. Syphilis prevalence increased from 6.8% during 2003-2004 to 10.4% during 2005-2006 and to 13.5% during 2007-2008. HIV-syphilis co-infection increased from 1.4% during 2005-2006 to 2.7% during 2007-2008. Study locations and study period are the two major contributors of heterogeneities of both HIV and syphilis prevalence among Chinese MSM.

Conclusions/significance: There have been significant increases in HIV and syphilis prevalence among MSM in China. Scale-up of HIV and syphilis screening and implementation of effective public health intervention programs should target MSM to prevent further spread of HIV and syphilis infection.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Flow chart showing the meta-analysis studies selection.
N; the number of articles included in systematic review; n, the number of prevalence estimates included in meta-analysis.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Estimated prevalence of HIV, syphilis infection and HIV-syphilis co-infection among men who have sex with men during 2003–2008.
Each column represents the pooled estimate from meta-analyses over all studies for the given region and time period. The error bars represent standard deviation of the percentages.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Forest Plot showing the results of meta-analyses of HIV prevalence among MSM in different time period.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Forest Plot showing the results of meta-analyses of syphilis prevalence among MSM in different time period.
Figure 5
Figure 5. Forest Plot showing the results of meta-analyses of HIV-syphilis co-infection prevalence among MSM in different time period.
Figure 6
Figure 6. Correlation between HIV and Syphilis infection among men who have sex with men in China.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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