Compare HIV/syphilis infections between age groups and explore associated factors of HIV/syphilis co-infections among men who have sex with men in Shenzhen, China, from 2009 to 2017

PLoS One. 2019 Oct 3;14(10):e0223377. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223377. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to assess the HIV/syphilis epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM) aged <50 years and ≥50 years in Shenzhen, and explore the associated factors of HIV/syphilis co-infections among MSM in Shenzhen, in order to help prevention and intervention programs determine their target sub-group. A serial cross-sectional study was conducted on MSM in Shenzhen city, China from 2009 to 2017. A questionnaire was used to collect demographic characteristics, history of HIV testing, history of blood donation and sexual behaviors. 5 ml of venous blood were collected for syphilis and HIV tests. The overall prevalence of HIV, syphilis, HIV/syphilis co-infection was 9.40%, 18.97%, and 4.91%, respectively. The prevalence of HIV (15.26%), syphilis (27.71%), HIV/syphilis co-infection (9.24%) in aged ≥50 years MSM was significantly higher than aged <50 years MSM (9.15%, 18.59% and 4.72%, respectively). The following factors were found to be significantly associated with HIV/syphilis co-infections (P<0.05): age≥50 years (OR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.10-2.87), high school or lower (OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.10-2.01), monthly income ≤436.2 USD (OR = 1.74, 95% CI = 1.25-2.42), monthly income 436.4-727.2 USD (OR = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.05-2.03), ≥2 anal sex partners in the past 6 months (OR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.02-2.49), ≥2 oral sex partners in the past 6 months (OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.08-2.36), inconsistent condom use during anal sex in the past 6 months (OR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.11-2.03). We found that aged <50 years and ≥50 years MSM in Shenzhen had a high prevalence of HIV/syphilis infection in a period from 2009 to 2017. Age-specific sexually transmitted diseases education, prevention, and intervention programs for aged ≥50 years MSM should be implemented urgently and integrated interventions of both HIV and syphilis infections on MSM are needed in the future.

Publication types

  • Historical Article
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • China / epidemiology
  • Coinfection*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • HIV Infections / history
  • HIV Infections / transmission
  • History, 21st Century
  • Homosexuality, Male*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Public Health Surveillance
  • Risk Factors
  • Sexual Partners
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / epidemiology
  • Syphilis / epidemiology*
  • Syphilis / history
  • Syphilis / transmission
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This study was supported by Sanming project of Medicine in Shenzhen (No. SZSM201611077) to YMC, RXW, FCH, and WYY. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.