Objective: To study the HIV incidence and risk factors among sero-negative spouses of HIV patients in Dehong prefecture of Yunnan province.
Methods: A cohort of sero-negative spouses of the HIV patients had been developed and followed up since November, 2005. HIV new infections and related behaviors had been investigated every six months.
Results: By the end of June, 2008, 790 sero-negative spouses of HIV patients had been recruited, of whom 702 were followed-up for at least one time. During the total 1202.35 person-years, 31 new HIV infections were identified, with an overall incidence of 2.58/100 person-years. The HIV incidence rates were 2.22/100 person-years in 2006, 2.95/100 person-years in 2007 and 2.74/100 person-years in 2008. Data from the Cox proportional hazard regression model indicated that those who resided in Yingjiang county [hazard ratio (HR) = 4.37, 95%CI: 1.48 - 12.90, P = 0.008], ever using drugs (HR = 3.49, 95%CI: 1.09 - 11.18, P = 0.035), or having an HIV-infected spouse who never exposed to antiretroviral treatment (HR = 3.60, 95%CI: 1.41 - 9.16, P = 0.007) were at higher risk for HIV infection.
Conclusion: Sero-negative spouses of HIV patients in Dehong prefecture of Yunnan province had a relatively high incidence of HIV new infection during 2006-2008. More efforts should put on those people living in these areas, having a history of drug use or having an HIV-infected spouse who had never been exposed to antiretroviral treatment.