Assessing health human resource structure at Urumqi's center for disease control and prevention.

By conducting an in-depth investigation and analysis of the health human resource framework within the Urumqi Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this study aims to offer valuable insights for the objective assessment and future enhancement of its talent development endeavors. A questionnaire survey was administered, followed by a descriptive analysis, involving the healthcare professionals affiliated with the Urumqi Center for CDC. The Urumqi Center for CDC exhibited a lower compilation number than its on-duty personnel count. When compared to county (district) level, the municipal level CDC displayed a higher educational attainment, a more favorable title distribution, and a younger workforce demographic. The human resource count in both Urumqi's city and county (district) level CDCs has decreased, but the relative numbers have improved, indicating enhanced quality and a younger workforce. The municipal-level CDC boasts a superior human resource structure compared to the county (district) level, with better fairness in population distribution by area than geography. Allocation equity within the central urban area is higher than in distant urban areas, highlighting regional disparities as a significant factor.

Effects of Occupational Hazards on Job Stress and Mental Health of Factory Workers and Miners: A Propensity Score Analysis.

This study is to evaluate the effects of different occupational hazards on job stress and mental health of factory workers and miners. A total of 6120 workers from factories and mining enterprises in seven districts and one district of Urumqi were determined using the stratified cluster random sampling method. The Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) questionnaire and the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) were used to evaluate the effects of occupational hazard factors on job stress and mental health of workers. The propensity score analysis was used to control the confounding factors. The occupational hazards affecting job stress of workers were asbestos dust (OR = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.09-1.55), benzene (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.10-1.41), and noise (OR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.22-1.59). The occupational hazards affecting the mental health of workers were coal dust (OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.02-1.38), asbestos dust (OR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.32-1.92), benzene (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.13-1.47), and noise (OR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.07-1.42). Different occupational hazards have certain influence on job stress and mental health of factory workers and miners. The enhancements in occupational hazard and risk assessment, occupational health examination, and occupational protection should be taken to relieve job stress and enhance the mental health of factory workers and miners.

[Prevalence of informing of HIV infection status during medical care seeking and influential factors among people living with HIV/AIDS].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the prevalence of informing doctors of the HIV infection status during medical care seeking and influential factors among people living with HIV/AIDS. METHODS: The study was conducted among people living with HIV/AIDS in 7 provinces in China, including those receiving HIV test, HIV counsel and HIV infection treatment. The data were analyzed with software SAS 9.2. Chi-square test was used to compare the informing rates in patients with different characteristics. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the influential factors. RESULTS: Of the 2 432 HIV/AIDS patients, 49.7% (716/1 442) didn't inform the doctors of their HIV infection status actively. The non-active informing rate was 51.9% (559/1 077) in males, 62.9% (212/337) in age group 18-30 years old, 58.1% (555/955) in those with a educational level >primary school, 65.7% (241/367) in those working in private/joint companies or the self employed and 62.5% (197/315) in those living in small cities. The non active informing rate was highest in those infected through sexual contact (66.3%, 275/415). Multivariate logical regression analysis indicated that those infected through illegal blood donation would like to inform of the HIV infection status actively (OR=0.083, 95% CI: 0.049-0.141) , but those working in private/joint companies or the self employed would like not to inform of the HIV infection status actively (OR=1.531, 95% CI: 1.017-2.304). CONCLUSION: The non active informing rate of HIV infection status was high in people living with HIV/AIDS. It is necessary to conduct the targeted health education to encourage people living with HIV/AIDS to inform of their HIV infection status actively.

Measles outbreak on a college campus transmitted through internet cafés.

BACKGROUND: During March 2008, a college in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in China, reported a measles outbreak, amid a city-wide outbreak involving >2700 cases. METHODS: Suspected case patients were defined as patients with onset of fever (≥38°) and rash between 7 March and 30 April 2008. Probable case patients were defined as suspected case patients with >3 days of rash or known exposure to someone with laboratory-confirmed measles. Confirmed case patients were defined as suspected or probable case patients with Koplik spots or positive titer for immunoglobulin M antibody. We conducted a case-control investigation to identify risk factors for transmission. RESULTS: We identified 162 suspected (attack rate, 1.9%), 99 probable, and 62 confirmed case patients. The epidemic curve indicated a point source initially, followed by person-to-person transmission. Approximately 63% of 90 probable case patients and 27% of 150 asymptomatic student controls randomly selected among classmates of student case patients visited internet cafés during the exposure period (odds ratio [OR], 4.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.6-8.0); 66% of case patients and 45% of student controls reported close contact with a measles case patient (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.3-3.9). In stratified analysis, visiting internet cafés (OR, 4.0; 95% CI, 1.5-11) remained significantly associated with disease, but contact with case patients (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, .79-4.4) became nonsignificant. CONCLUSIONS: This measles outbreak was transmitted in internet cafés, followed by secondary transmission. Chinese universities should require proof of immunity or 2 doses of measles vaccine at college entry.

High HIV risk among Uigur minority ethnic drug users in northwestern China.

OBJECTIVE: To assess differences of HIV risk between ethnicities in northwestern China. METHOD: Cross-sectional serosurvey and structured questionnaire interview of 383 injection drug users of either Han or Uigur ethnicity in Urumqi, Xinjiang. RESULTS: Both Uigur minority ethnicity and residence in a Uigur or mixed Uigur/Han community were independently associated with higher HIV risk. CONCLUSION: HIV prevention programs should give special focus on minority ethnic drug users and their communities.

Willingness of Chinese injection drug users to participate in HIV vaccine trials.

BACKGROUND: Chinese injection drug users (IDUs) may be a proper candidate population for HIV vaccine trials. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate willingness to participate (WTP) in HIV vaccine trials among Chinese IDUs. METHODS: Questionnaire interviews were completed among 401 IDUs in Urumqi City in northwestern China in 2005. RESULTS: Overall 74.3% of participants said that they would be definitely willing to participate in HIV vaccine trials, 17.7% were probably willing, 6.2% were probably not willing, and remaining 1.8% were definitely not willing to join. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that WTP was positively associated with having ever had sex with a drug use partner (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04, 3.2), sharing needle and syringe with a new drug use partner in the past 3 months (AOR: 3.8; 95% CI: 1.2, 11.7), perceived family support for participation (AOR: 7.4; 95% CI: 4.3, 12.7), and perceived vaccine protection against HIV infection (AOR: 16.1; 95% CI: 3.7, 70.8), and was negatively associated with perceived risk of social stigma and isolation for participation (AOR: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.2, 0.5). CONCLUSIONS: The stated WTP in hypothetical HIV vaccine trials was high among Chinese IDUs. Further studies are needed to evaluate actual enrollment into the trials.

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.

Demographic characteristics and risk behaviors associated with HIV positive injecting drug users in Xinjiang, China.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the demographic characteristics and risk behaviors associated with HIV positive and negative injection drug users (IDUs) who were screened for inclusion in a prospective cohort study to estimate HIV incidence in Xinjiang, China. METHODS: Data analyses were performed on the demographic and risk assessment data collected at screening from high-risk IDUs, defined as anyone who reported injecting drugs at least three times per week in the last month or injected drugs after sharing equipment on at least three occasions in the last three months. RESULTS: HIV antibody prevalence among 781 IDUs at baseline survey was 29%. The following factors were significantly associated with an increase in risk for HIV infection: age > or =26years (OR=3.16, 95% CI [2.02;4.94]), lack of college education (OR=2.32, 95% CI [1.02;5.25]), frequency of heroin use (OR=1.23, 95% CI [1.02;1.47]) and sharing of rinse water (OR=1.47, 95% CI [1.18;1.84]). Female gender (OR=0.44, 95% CI [0.22;0.86]), being Han vs Uighur ethnicity (OR=0.18, 95% CI [0.11;0.27]), and other race vs Uighur ethnicity (OR=0.23, 95% CI [0.12;0.44]) were significantly associated with a lower risk of HIV infection. CONCLUSIONS: HIV infection among high risk IDUs in Xinjiang, China is high and is associated with older male Uighur IDUs who lack college education, frequently inject heroin, and/or share rinse water. There is a great potential for HIV transmission from IDUs to the general population. Therefore, related risk behaviors in IDUs, especially their sexual behavior, should be closely monitored.