Disparity of human immunodeficiency virus incidence and drug resistance in college student, non-student youth and older men who have sex with men: a cross-sectional study from seven major cities of China.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence among student men who have sex with men (MSM) in college is more than 5.0% and keeps on increasing in China. This study aims to clarify the proportion of HIV recent infection, its propeller and the source among college student MSM.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter cross-sectional study in seven major Chinese cities during 2012-2013. HIV recent infections (≤ 168 days) and incidence was measured and estimated by BED HIV-1 capture enzyme immunoassay (BED-CEIA) testing strategy. HIV-related behaviors and transmitted drug resistance (TDR) were investigated and compared between the college student MSM, <25-year-old non-student youth MSM (NSYM), and ≥25-year-old non-student non-youth MSM (NSNYM), using structured survey, and analyses of drug resistance.

Results: Overall, 4,496 (4496/4526, 99.3%) were eligible for enrollment, comprising 565 college student MSM, 1,094 NSYM, and 2,837 NSNYM. The proportion of HIV recent infection were 70.3% (26/37), 50.8% (65/128) and 35.1% (95/271), the HIV incidence rate were 10.0 (95% CI: 6.2-13.9)/100PY, 12.9 (95% CI: 9.8-16.1)/100PY, 6.8 (95% CI: 5.4-8.2)/100PY, and TDR prevalence were 7.4% (2/27), 2.0%, (2/98) and 4.9% (11/226), among student MSM, NSYM, and NSNYM, respectively. Among HIV positive student MSM with age< 21-year-old, the proportion of HIV recent infection is 90.9% (10/11). Factors independently associated with HIV recent infection in student MSM was usage of recreational drug in the past 6 months (AOR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.0-5.8).

Conclusions: College student MSM had higher proportion of HIV recent infection and TDR than the youth and older MSM in China during 2012-2013. The HIV infections were more likely to happen during the early year of college life among student MSM.