[Survey of prevalence of HIV infection, syphilis and HCV infection and related risk behaviors among club drug users in Zhejiang, 2011]

Abstract

Objective: To understand the prevalence of HIV infection, syphilis and hepatitis C infection and related risk behaviors among club drug users in Zhejiang province.

Methods: The drug users were interviewed with questionnaires in 2011 to collect the information about their demographic characteristics, sexual behaviors, drug use behaviors and the utilization of intervention services. Blood samples were collected from them to detect HIV, syphilis and HCV antibodies.

Results: A total of 3 253 drug users were surveyed, in which 1 298 were club drug users, accounted for 39.9%. The proportion of club drug users was high in northern and central Zhejiang, in females, in age group≤25 years, in local residents and in those having commercial sexual behaviors during previous 12 months. Of the 1 298 club drug users, 91.2% were methamphetamine users, 0.1% were infected with HIV (95% CI: 0.0%-0.2%), 8.1% suffered from syphilis (95% CI: 6.6%-9.6%), 17.3% were infected with HCV (95% CI: 15.2%-19.4%). Among the interviewed club drug users, 12.7% were aware of AIDS, 9.2% had injecting drug use histories, 29.6% reported having commercial sex during the previous 12 months, only 33.4% received free condom and counsel, 14.0% received HIV test. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that living in central and southern Zhejiang was associated with syphilis prevalence, HCV infection and injecting drug use behavior, being female was associated with syphilis prevalence. Injecting drug use and commercial sex during the previous 12 months were associated with HCV infection, and injecting drug use and commercial sex during the previous 12 months were associated with each other. Among the 1 285 club drug users, males, local residents in Zhejiang and those who never received free condom or counsel were more likely to have commercial sex.

Conclusion: The prevalence of syphilis and HCV infection are high and unprotected sexual behaviors are common among the club drug users in Zhejiang, but less intervention services were received by them, suggesting that more attention should be paid to the prevention and control of HIV, HCV infections and syphilis in club drug users by taking effective intervention measures and increasing intervention coverage.