Self-reported sexually transmitted disease symptoms and treatment-seeking behaviors in China.

In recent decades, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have reemerged and spread as a major public health problem in China. However, little effort has been made on promoting appropriate health-seeking behaviors among people living with STDs. A randomly selected sample of market vendors in Fuzhou (N = 4510) was recruited and assessed from 2003 to 2004 to examine their choice of pharmacy versus hospital, and folk remedy versus Western medicine when having STD symptoms.

[Comparison of quality of life for drug addicts in methadone maintenance treatment clinics, community and compulsory detoxification institutions in Sichuan Province].

Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare quality of life for drug addicts in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) clinics, communities, and compulsory detoxification institutions (CDI).

Methods: Drug addicts were surveyed by self-administrated quality of life instrument for drug addicts. Linear regression was used to compare quality of life scores for drug addicts in three groups.

Pharmacy workers' sexually transmitted diseases/human immunodeficiency virus knowledge in Fuzhou, China: implications for human immunodeficiency virus testing, treatment, and prevention strategies.

Background: Pharmacies play a special role in providing treatment services for patients with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in China. There is a need to study the STD/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) knowledge among pharmacy workers in retail pharmacies.

Method: A total of 200 pharmacy workers were recruited from 120 randomly selected retail pharmacies in Fuzhou, China.

[Survival and immune response of rural HIV/AIDS patients after free antiretroviral therapy].

Objective: To assess the adherence, immunologic and survival responses in HIV-infected patients receiving free antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Methods: All adult HIV-infected patients in Wenxi county who started antiretroviral treatment (ART) between 01 July 2001 and 31 December 2006 and aged above 18 years were included in this study. Epidemiological survey and laboratory tests were performed before, 0.

[Risk factors associated with continued heroin use during methadone maintenance treatment in Guizhou province, China].

Objective: To investigate the proportion of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) clients continuing to use heroin and to explore its associated risk factors.

Methods: All 1003 heroin addictive patients were recruited from eight MMT clinics in Guizhou province and followed up for 14 months. During the 14 months, each MMT client received random urine tests.

[Survey on AIDS/STD risk behaviors and prevalence among men who have sex with men in Langfang, Hebei].

Objective: To understand the demographic and HIV risk behaviors, HIV and syphilis infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Langfang, Hebei.

Methods: 106 completed questionnaires were collected from 118 participants, who were recruited from MSM pubs and internet from October to November, 2007. Data on homosexual and heterosexual relationships as well as sexual behaviors were collected by face-to-face interview.

Institutional support for HIV/AIDS care in China: a multilevel analysis.

A total of 1,101 Chinese healthcare workers were surveyed to determine the perception of institutional support for HIV/AIDS care in China. Multilevel regression models with random effects were used to estimate individual and facility-level effects on healthcare workers' perceived institutional support. Regional workers (at the provincial, city, county levels) reported higher institutional support for HIV/AIDS care than local workers (at the township and village levels).

Neurobehavioral effects of human immunodeficiency virus infection among former plasma donors in rural China.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic in China has expanded rapidly in recent years, but little is known about the prevalence and features of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HANDs) in this part of the world. We administered a comprehensive Western neuropsychological (NP) test battery to 203 HIV+ and 198 HIV- former plasma donors in the rural area of Anhui province. They found that 26% of the HIV- samples, and 46% of the HIV+ samples, were infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), which can also have central nervous system (CNS) effects.

Correlates of methadone client retention: a prospective cohort study in Guizhou province, China.

Background: Methadone client retention levels and treatment doses of patients vary widely in methadone clinics across China. Because methadone clinics have been available in China only recently, this study explored the relationship between methadone dosage and client retention in methadone maintenance programmes in Guizhou province.

Methods: The study used a prospective cohort study design.

Emergence and control of infectious diseases in China.

Infectious diseases remain the major causes of morbidity and mortality in China despite substantial progress in their control. China is a major contributor to the worldwide infectious disease burden because of its population size. The association of China with the rest of the world through travel and trade means that events in the country can affect distant populations.

Syndromic and laboratory diagnosis of sexually transmitted infection: a comparative study in China.

The rate of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has soared in China. Yet, there is no universal consensus about the accuracy of the syndromic approach to STI management. This study aims to compare the syndromic approach with laboratory tests.

A brief HIV stigma reduction intervention for service providers in China.

This study assessed the effect of a brief intervention aimed at reducing HIV-related stigma among service providers in China. From December 2005 to June 2006, 138 service providers from four county hospitals in the Yunnan province of China were randomly assigned into either an intervention or a control condition. HIV stigma reduction concepts were conveyed through participatory small group activities, including role-plays, games, group discussions, and testimony by an HIV advocate.

A comparison of voluntary counseling and testing uptake between a China CARES county and a county not designated for the china CARES program.

A cross-sectional study employing two-stage cluster sampling was conducted between December 2005 and March 2006 to compare adults' knowledge of HIV/AIDS voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) and the attitudes toward and acceptance of VCT between a county in which a comprehensive HIV/AIDS program, China CARES (CC), was available, and a county where it was not. Information on HIV/AIDS knowledge, awareness of VCT, and attitudes was collected. All participants were given a coupon for free VCT after the cross-sectional interview.

To tell or not to tell: HIV disclosure to family members in China.

Laws in China relating to HIV disclosure are inconsistent. After a patient has tested HIV-positive, service providers struggle to decide who should be informed first: patients, family members, or both. To understand service providers' attitudes and practices regarding the HIV notification process in China, 1101 service providers from a southwestern province of China were surveyed.

Visiting entertainment venues and sexual health in China.

Entertainment venues in China are associated with risky sexual behavior. Most previous studies related to entertainment venues in China have focused on sex workers and commercial sex, but this study addressed sexual health in a sample of the general urban population. A randomly selected sample of market vendors (n = 4,510) from an eastern city was recruited and assessed to examine relationships between entertainment venue visits and sexual risk.

Diffusion of positive AIDS care messages among service providers in China.

There is great potential in adapting the popular opinion leader (POL) intervention model to address HIV-related stigma and quality of care among service providers in China. Using a representative sample of 1,101 service providers in China, this study provides preliminary descriptions of POL provider characteristics. Multiple regression analyses revealed that diffusion of positive AIDS care messages among service providers in China was associated with factors such as gender, ethnicity, medical education, level of care, personal contact with people living with HIV/AIDS, and HIV-related training.

A five-city trial of a behavioural intervention to reduce sexually transmitted disease/HIV risk among sex workers in China.

Objectives: To explore and evaluate a sexually transmitted disease (STD)/HIV intervention program targeting female sex workers working in entertainment establishments in five different settings in China.

Design And Method: A prospective, community-based, pre/post, intervention trial set in entertainment establishments (karaoke bars, massage parlours, dance halls, beauty parlours) where sex workers operate at sites in five provinces of China: Anhui, Beijing, Fujian, Guangxi and Xinjiang. The participants were all sex workers working in targeted entertainment establishments.

The first community-based sexually transmitted disease/HIV intervention trial for female sex workers in China.

Objectives: This study was the first community-based intervention to test feasibility and effectiveness of an intervention targeting sex workers in China.

Design: Prospective, community-based, pre/post-intervention trial.

Method: Thirty establishments in Chengjiang, 34 in Ruili and 23 in Longchuan were selected for the study.

Selecting at-risk populations for sexually transmitted disease/HIV intervention studies.

Objective And Design: This paper describes one option to select populations for randomized, controlled trials (RCT). We used a popular opinion leader intervention in Fuzhou, China, to: (1) identify population selection criteria; (2) systematically examine the suitability of potential target populations and settings; (3) briefly evaluate risk and stability in the population; and (4) evaluate regional and organizational support among administrators and government officials.

Methods And Results: After comparing migrant villagers, truck drivers, factory workers, construction workers, and market employees in five regions of China, market employees in Fuzhou were identified as the optimal target population.

Survey on HIV/AIDS-related high risk behaviors among male sex workers in two cities in China.

Objective: To investigate HIV/AIDS-related high-risk behaviors and condom use among male sex workers (MSW).

Design And Methods: A cross-sectional survey in which 'snow-ball' sampling was used to recruit 85 male sex workers in Beijing and Qingdao City. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to obtain quantitative information on HIV related high-risk behaviors and condom use.

Factors associated with adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV/AIDS patients in rural China.

Objective: To assess the levels of adherence to antiretroviral therapy in a sample of HIV-infected patients from rural areas in China and to determine the factors associated with suboptimal adherence.

Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted on HIV-infected adults receiving free antiretroviral therapy (ART) in two project sites of China's Comprehensive AIDS Response program (China CARES).

Methods: Data on socio-demographic characteristics, ART regimens, HIV/AIDS knowledge, side effects, reasons for missing doses, substance abuse, self-efficacy, doctor-patient relations and health services information was collected through face-to-face interview.

Acceptance of and barriers to voluntary HIV counselling and testing among adults in Guizhou province, China.

Objectives: To find and compare the levels of acceptance of and barriers to voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) among adults in two different counties of Guizhou province, China, one in which the China CARES project was operating and the other in which it was not.

Design: A longitudinal design with two-stage cluster sampling was employed.

Methods: A total of 1012 participants were recruited in the two counties.