HIV incidence, retention rate, and baseline predictors of HIV incidence and retention in a prospective cohort study of injection drug users in Xinjiang, China.

Objective: To determine HIV seroincidence, study participant retention rate, and baseline predictors of HIV incidence and study retention among high-risk injection drug users (IDUs) in Xinjiang, China.

Methods: A total of 508 eligible seronegative high-risk IDUs were enrolled. Study participants were tested for HIV-1 and counseled at the baseline, 6-month, and 12-month follow-up visits. Sociodemographic and behavioral data were collected during each study visit. The HIV-1 incidence rate and the retention rate were analyzed as a function of sociodemographic, behavioral, and recruitment variables.

Results: At 12 months of follow-up, the HIV-1 incidence rate was 8.8 per 100 person-years (95% CI 6.3-12.0%) and the participant retention rate was 93%. Marital status at baseline was the only predictor of HIV incidence. No baseline variables were predictive of study retention.

Conclusions: HIV incidence is high among IDUs in Xinjiang, China. Baseline predictors of incidence and retention were minimal. The participant retention rate in this study is promising for the undertaking of future HIV intervention studies.