Prevalence of HIV and Syphilis Infection among High School and College Student MSM in China: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

ObjectivesThe aim of this study is to systematically review the published studies and summarize the estimates of HIV and syphilis prevalences among high school and college student MSM in China in order to provide information for conducting targeted interventions.MethodsPubmed, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang and Google Scholar databases were searched in January 2013 to identify relevant articles. Data of eligible citations were extracted by two reviewers. All analyses were performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis V2.0 and SPSS V17.0.ResultsTwenty-four eligible studies (6 in English and 18 in Chinese), published between 2006 and 2012, with a total of 3083 student MSM participants, were included. The meta-analyses showed that the prevalences of HIV and syphilis among studied student MSM were 4.4% (95% CI: 3.0%, 6.4%) and 5.7% (95% CI: 4.8%, 6.7%), respectively. HIV prevalence increased over the study period (3.0% in 2003–2006; 4.5% in 2007–2008, and 6.8% in 2009–2010, trend test chi-square = 11.3, p = 0.001).ConclusionsStudent MSM have become high-risk populations for HIV infection in China. The high prevalence of syphilis and the increasing HIV prevalence trend indicate the potential for a more severe HIV epidemic. Comprehensive intervention strategies that address condom promotion, syphilis detection and treatment, and health education need to be tailored to this vulnerable population to prevent HIV and syphilis infections.

Benefits and Potential Harms of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Self-Testing Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in China: An Implementation Perspective

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Prevalence and Determinants of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 (HSV-2)/Syphilis Co-Infection and HSV-2 Mono-Infection among Human Immunodeficiency Virus Positive Men Who Have Sex with Men: a Cross-Sectional Study in Northeast China

“…This finding may reflect that youth are vulnerable to STIs, possibility due to lower levels of education, risk perception, and the higher prevalence of risky sexual behaviors (23,24). Because HIV transmission among youth MSM in China has become a rapidly emerging public health problem (25,26), interventions including education on safer sexual behaviors, improving the coverage and pertinence voluntary counseling, and testing work and STI treatments are imperative to prevent STIs infections in MSM.…”

Seeking Male Sexual Partners via Internet and Traditional Venues among Chinese Men Who Have Sex with Men: Implications for HIV Risk Reduction Interventions

“…A diversity of channels are used among MSM to find sexual partners (sex-finding); this adds to the complexity of sexual networks and presents a huge challenge in coping with the ever-growing HIV epidemic among Chinese MSM [9][10][11][12][13]. Traditionally, sex-finding has been concentrated in public locations such as parks, public toilets, entertainment facilities (e.g., gay-friendly bars/pubs, bathhouses, and saunas) [14,15].…”