Changes in HIV prevalence and intervention service utilization among MSM under sentinel monitoring in Taizhou of Zhejiang Province / 上海预防医学

ObjectiveTo analyze the changes in HIV， syphilis and hepatitis C prevalence among men who have sex with men （MSM） in Taizhou City， Zhejiang Province from 2017 to 2022， and the utilization of HIV intervention services and its influencing factors. MethodsMSM participants were recruited from HIV sentinel surveillance in Taizhou through snowball sampling method. Participants’ socio-demographic characteristics， sexual behavior characteristics， knowledge of HIV and utilization of HIV intervention services were collected and statistically described by questionnaire survey. Blood samples from MSM sentinel population were also collected for HIV， syphilis， and HCV antibody testing. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors for utilizing HIV intervention services among MSM. ResultsA total of 2 499 MSM were included in the analysis from 2017 to 2022， with HIV prevalence of 5.8%， syphilis prevalence of 4.0%， and HCV prevalence of 0.6%. The infection rate， proportion of homosexual anal sex and heterosexual sex showed a decreasing trend， while the proportion of condom use during homosexual anal sex， condom publicity and distribution， AIDS consultation and testing， acceptance of peer education， and online temporary homosexual sex showed an increasing trend. All these differences were statistically significant. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that COVID-19 epidemic （aOR=1.66， 95%CI：1.04‒2.64） and HIV knowledge awareness （aOR=2.57， 95%CI：1.22‒5.40） were positively correlated with increased acceptance of condom publicity and distribution， and utilization of AIDS counseling and testing. Those who sought male sexual partners through offline route （aOR=3.44， 95%CI： 1.16‒10.21）， and had a history of sexually transmitted diseases within one year （aOR=5.47， 95%CI： 1.04‒28.76） were positively correlated with community-based methadone maintenance therapy， clean needle provision and exchange services， while COVID-19 epidemic （aOR=0.35， 95%CI： 0.14‒0.88） was negatively correlated with the utilization of these services. COVID-19 epidemic （aOR=2.11， 95%CI： 1.54‒2.89）， HIV knowledge awareness （aOR=2.09， 95%CI： 1.08‒4.02）， offline search for male sexual partners （aOR=1.47， 95%CI： 1.03‒2.11）， and awareness of HIV infection of sexual partners （aOR=2.09， 95%CI： 1.62‒2.69） were positively correlated with the increased use of peer education service， while married or cohabited （aOR=0.73， 95%CI： 0.55‒0.98） and VCT （aOR=0.61， 95%CI： 0.46‒0.82） were negatively correlated with utilization of peer education service. ConclusionHIV infection rate of sentinel MSM population in Taizhou decreases， while the utilization of HIV intervention services increases in general. Targeted measures should be developed according to the changes in sexual behavior and HIV intervention services among MSM populations in Taizhou to improve the HIV intervention services for the MSM population.

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus and risk factors among drug users in Taizhou City of Zhejiang Province， 2009‒2020 / 上海预防医学

ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus （HCV） infection and identify the underlying risk factors among drug users in Taizhou City of Zhejiang Province during 2009‒2020. MethodsA consecutive cross-sectional survey was conducted. A total of 400 drug users in correctional settings were randomly selected from April to August. The drug users were interviewed with a questionnaire to collect demographic characteristics， AIDS-related knowledge， detoxification service， drug use， and sexual behavior. Blood samples were then collected for anti-HCV antibody testing. Chi-square test and multivariate conditional logistic regression were used. ResultsA total of 5 042 drug users were included in this study. Seroprevalence of HCV was determined to be 22.7%. From 2009 to 2019， the seroprevalence showed a significant downward trend， from 34.9% to 8.8% （χ2=221.025， P<0.001）. However， in 2020， the seroprevalence was 12.7%. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that senior age （≥25 years old）， cohabitation， taking traditional or mixed drugs， injection drug use， and needle sharing were risk factors associated with HCV seroprevalence. ConclusionSince 2009， HCV seroprevalence among drug users in Taizhou City has shown a downward trend， however， it has increased slightly in 2020. It warrants strengthening prevention and treatment measures in response to risk factors related to HCV infection among drug users.

Association between mitochondrial haplogroups and neurocognitive disorder in HIV positive individuals / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the distribution of mitochondrial haplogroups and their correlation with neurocognitive disorder (NCD) in HIV positive individuals.@*Methods@#Baseline data were from the prospective cohort study of comparative HIV and aging research in Taizhou of Zhejiang province from January to December, 2017. A cross-sectional survey was performed in 448 HIV positive individuals. Sanger method was used for the sequencing and genotyping of whole mitochondrial genome of HIV positive individuals. NCD prevalence in the HIV positive individuals was assessed by Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) in questionnaire interviews. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the associations between mtDNA haplogroups and NCD.@*Results@#In this sample, mitochondrial haplogroups D (19.6%, 88/448), B (19.4%, 87/448) and F(17.0%, 76/448) were the most predominant haplogroups. The overall prevalence rate of NCD was 20.3% (91/448), and was high in haplogroups A (23.1%, 9/39), D (21.6%, 19/88), F (26.3%, 20/76) and M7 groups (26.1%, 12/46), respectively. In multivariable logistic regression analysis after adjusting confounding factors, such as age and gender, compared with haplogroup A, there were no differences in the prevalence rate of NCD among HIV positive individuals with haplogroup B, D, F, M7, M8, N9, and others.@*Conclusion@#The study explored primarily correlation between mitochondrial haplogroups and NCD among HIV positive individuals and suggested that there is no significant association between mitochondrial haplogroups and NCD, but further longitudinal investigation with large sample size of HIV positive population is needed to confirm this finding.

Characteristics of sleep disorder in HIV positive and HIV negative individuals: a cluster analysis / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective@#To understand the characteristics of sleep disorder in HIV positive and negative individuals, and compare the distributions and epidemiologic characteristic of different subtypes of sleep disorder between two groups.@*Methods@#Baseline data were from the prospective cohort study of comparative HIV and aging research in Taizhou of Zhejiang province from January to December, 2017. A total of 459 HIV positive patients and 798 HIV negative controls with sleep disorders (Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index >5 or at least one question with answers of "most nights" or "every night" for Jenkins Sleep Scale) were included in the analysis. Cluster analysis was conducted to identify the different subtypes of sleep disorder based on 15 sleep-related questions.@*Results@#A total of 1 257 participants were divided into three groups (clusters), i.e. difficulty falling asleep and sleep keeping group (cluster 1), the mild symptoms group (cluster 2), and restless night and daytime dysfunction group (cluster 3), accounting for 19.4% (89/459), 63.8% (293/459) and 16.8% (77/459) in HIV positive group and 13.8% (110/798), 60.5% (483/798) and 25.7% (205/798) in HIV negative group (χ2=16.62, P<0.001). In HIV positive group, the patients in cluster 1 and 3 were older and had higher frailty score, the patients in cluster 1 had highest level of depression, and the more patients in cluster 3 had low body weight or overweight (χ2=13.29, P=0.039; χ2=23.33, P<0.001; χ2=25.71, P<0.001; χ2=15.37, P=0.004). In HIV-negative group, similar findings were found for age, depressive symptoms and frailty score. In addition, the proportion of those who were illiteracy or with primary school education level was significantly high in cluster 1, and the proportion of abnormal waist-to-hip ratio was significantly higher in cluster 1 and 3 (χ2=30.59, P<0.001; χ2=11.61, P=0.003).@*Conclusions@#The proportion of every subtype of sleep disorder in HIV positive individuals were different to those in HIV negative individuals. Mental and physical health status were the main factors affecting the prevalence of sleep disorder. It is necessary to conduct targeted interventions to improve sleep quality.

Prevalence of alcohol use and related factors in HIV positive and HIV negative males / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective@#To understand the prevalence of alcohol use and related factors in HIV positive and HIV negative males.@*Methods@#Baseline data were from the prospective cohort study of comparative HIV and aging research in Taizhou of Zhejiang province from January to December, 2017. The information about alcohol use in the last month was collected through a face-to-face questionnaire interview. Participants were categorized into non-current drinkers, light/moderate drinkers and heavy drinkers according to the US National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA) standard.@*Results@#A total of 1 367 HIV positive males and 2 418 HIV negative males were included. Current alcohol use rate (35.2%, 481/1 367) and heavy alcohol use rate (5.0%, 24/481) were significantly lower in HIV positive males than in HIV negative males (48.0%, 1 161/2 418; 23.5%, 273/1 161), but the proportion of drinking wine and yellow rice wine were significantly higher (21.8%, 105/481; 9.1%, 44/481) in HIV positive males than in HIV negative males (13.5%, 157/1 161; 5.8%, 67/1 161). The multivariate multinomial logistic regression analysis results showed that larger waist circumference, current smoking and regular physical exercise were associated with heavy alcohol use behavior in HIV positive males, and age ≥30 years, current smoking, regular physical exercise, higher score of depressive symptoms, heterosexual transmission route and baseline CD4+T cells counts of 200-499 cells/μl were significantly associated with mild/moderate alcohol use behavior in HIV positive males.@*Conclusions@#The alcohol use rate was significantly lower in HIV positive males than in HIV negative males in Taizhou. It is important to strengthen intervention on alcohol drinking behavior and chronic disease risk factors, such as larger waist circumference, smoking and so on.

Genotyping and molecular tracing of the first local infection of dengue virus in Taizhou / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

Objective@#To determine the first dengue fever case in Taizhou and trace probable transmission sources.@*Methods@#Collected serum of three patients for antigen, antibody and nucleic acid detection. Dengue viruses were isolated and cultured in C6/36 cell. The whole length of E gene was amplified by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and then sequenced. The phylogenetic tree was drawn.@*Results@#Three cases were positive in nucleic acid detection. Two cases were IgM positive. One case was NSI antigen postive. Three strains of type I dengue virus were isolated from samples. The phylogenetic trees shown that the three strains were on the same branch. The identities of nucleotide were 99.87%. The identities of amino acid were 99.6%-99.8%.@*Conclusions@#The dengue virus strains isolated in Taizhou was imported from Guangdong or Southeast Asia and caused location infection.

Investigation of group sex in men who have sex with men in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, 2013-2015 / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To understand the prevalence of group sex in men who have sex with men (MSM) and related factors in Taizhou,Zhejiang province.Methods From March 2013 to September 2015,a cross-sectional survey was conducted among MSM recruited from gay bars or bath houses in Taizhou by using questionnaire to collect the information about their sexual behavior and HIV test.Results A total of 1 435 MSM were recruited,179 of them (12.5％) were HIV infected,231 (16.1％) reported group sex during the past year.Compared with MSM without group sex,more MSM with group sex had more than ten male sexual partners (53.7％ vs.19.0％,x2=125.527,P＜ 0.01),had both male and female sexual partners (86.6％ vs.68.2％,x2=31.935,P＜0.01),used no condom at sex with female partners during the past year (28.1％ vs.19.8％,x2=6.540,P＜0.05).After adjusted for educational level and occupation,group sex was associated with age [≥ 50 years old vs.≤ 24 years old,adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=2.25,P=0.027],marriage with female (divorced or widowed vs.unmarried,aOR=0.29,P=0.001),census registering (local resident vs.non-local resident,aOR=1.56,P=0.023),number of male seuxal partners (≥21 vs.2-5,aOR=8.06,P＜0.001;11-20 vs.2-5,aOR=3.25,P＜0.001) and number of female seuxal partners (≥6 vs.0,aOR=2.63,P=0.005;2-5 vs.0,aOR=2.58,P=0.001;1 vs.0,aOR=2.01,P=0.010).Conclusion The prcvalcncc of group sex in MSM was high in Taizhou,and their poor condom use and complex sex behaviors would result in higher HIV infection rate and risk of transmission.

Investigation of group sex in men who have sex with men in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, 2013-2015 / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To understand the prevalence of group sex in men who have sex with men (MSM) and related factors in Taizhou,Zhejiang province.Methods From March 2013 to September 2015,a cross-sectional survey was conducted among MSM recruited from gay bars or bath houses in Taizhou by using questionnaire to collect the information about their sexual behavior and HIV test.Results A total of 1 435 MSM were recruited,179 of them (12.5％) were HIV infected,231 (16.1％) reported group sex during the past year.Compared with MSM without group sex,more MSM with group sex had more than ten male sexual partners (53.7％ vs.19.0％,x2=125.527,P＜ 0.01),had both male and female sexual partners (86.6％ vs.68.2％,x2=31.935,P＜0.01),used no condom at sex with female partners during the past year (28.1％ vs.19.8％,x2=6.540,P＜0.05).After adjusted for educational level and occupation,group sex was associated with age [≥ 50 years old vs.≤ 24 years old,adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=2.25,P=0.027],marriage with female (divorced or widowed vs.unmarried,aOR=0.29,P=0.001),census registering (local resident vs.non-local resident,aOR=1.56,P=0.023),number of male seuxal partners (≥21 vs.2-5,aOR=8.06,P＜0.001;11-20 vs.2-5,aOR=3.25,P＜0.001) and number of female seuxal partners (≥6 vs.0,aOR=2.63,P=0.005;2-5 vs.0,aOR=2.58,P=0.001;1 vs.0,aOR=2.01,P=0.010).Conclusion The prcvalcncc of group sex in MSM was high in Taizhou,and their poor condom use and complex sex behaviors would result in higher HIV infection rate and risk of transmission.

[HIV related risky behavioral network and molecular epidemiology of HIV seroconcordant couples in Taizhou municipality of Zhejiang Province].

UNLABELLED: Obstract: To characterize and analyze risky sexual networks and genetic scales to potential HIV transmission for HIV seroconcordant couples in Taizhou municipality of Zhejiang Province. METHODS: HIV seroconcordant positive couples were invited as index cases to participate in an egocentric survey on HIV related risky behavior and behavioral network prior to HIV diagnosis during 2008-2011. Within-couple HIV transmission pairs were determined by the combination of both behavioral and phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS: Totally 27 HIV seroconcordant couples were enrolled in this study. Male spouses were more likely to report having two or more sexual partners in the past years prior to HIV diagnosis than female spouses (88.9% vs. 37.0%). Among 27 couples, 20 couples including 17 couples by male but not female spouses, 3 couples by female but not male spouses reported having two or more sexual partners (i.e., multiple sexual partners) prior to HIV diagnosis; and 7 couples by both spouses reported having multiple sexual partners. Twenty four of 27 sexual networks were determined to be HIV transmission pairs (20) or potential transmission pairs (4), 3 couples were subtyped with discordant HIV subtypes or large genetic distance and thus had different sources of HIV transmissions. In addition, among 27 concordant couples, HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) or primary HIVDR existed in 6 ART-naïve participants in 4 networks; among them, 2 networks were determined to be potential HIVDR transmission couple pairs. CONCLUSIONS: The HIV strains isolated in HIV infected spouses characterized with diversity and CRF01_AE was the main strain subtype. One of the spouses with risky behavior infected HIV was the main route of transmission to other spouses through unprotected sexual contacts. HIVDR was isolated from some HIV infected individuals, suggesting the risk for HIVDR transmission in married couples. The results provide enhanced evidence for urgent development of tailored prevention strategies, such as couple-based HIV counseling and testing services to reduce HIV secondary transmission.

Quality of Life of People Living with HIV/AIDS: A Cross-Sectional Study in Zhejiang Province, China.

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has become a concept commonly used in the related research. Using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire for Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF), this study evaluated the Quality of Life (QOL) of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Zhejiang province, China, and assessed the influences of demographic, laboratory and disease-related variables on QOL. This cross-sectional study was conducted among PLWHA aged ≥ 18 years in Taizhou municipality, Zhejiang province, China, between August 1 and October 31, 2014. A multiple linear regression model was used to analyze the influential factors. Of 403 subjects, 72.48% were male, 72.46% had received a high- school or above education, 94.79% were of Han ethnicity, and 65.51% were non farmers. The total score of QOL was 15.99±1.99. The scores of QOL in physiological, psychological, social relation, and environmental domains were 14.99 ±2.25, 14.25 ±2.12, 13.22 ±2.37, and 13.31 ±1.99 respectively. Except the total score of QOL and the score of environmental domain (p<0.05), the scores in other domains had no significant difference with the results of the national norm level. The multiple linear regression model identified the physical domain related factors to be age (ß = -0.045), CD4 count (ß = 0.002), and ART adherence(ß = 1.231). And it also showed that psychological domain related factors included CD4 count (ß = 0.002) and WHO clinical stage (ß = -0.437); social domain related factors included WHO clinical stage (ß = -0.704) and ART adherence (ß = 1.177); while environmental domain related factors included WHO clinical stage (ß = -0.538), educational status(ß = 0.549) and ART adherence(ß = 1.078).Those who are young, with higher level of education, higher CD4 count and good access and adherence of ART, are likely to have better QOL among PLWHA in Zhejiang province. This suggests that in addition to ART, many other factors should be taken into consideration to improve the QOL of PLWHA. The relatively lower scores the subjects received in social relation and environmental domains also suggest that social relation and environmental interventions need to be strengthened.

Co-infection of hepatitis C virus among newly diagnosed HIV-infected adults in Taizhou prefecture of Zhejiang province, China / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To examine the prevalence and correlates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection as well as plasma HCV viral load among newly diagnosed HIV-infected adults during 2009-2012 in Taizhou prefecture of Zhejiang province,China.Methods Five hundred and seventy-two adults who were newly diagnosed as HIV-infection were screened for anti-HCV immunoglobulin G (IgG).Plasma HCV RNA was quantified if positive for HCV IgG.Results Forty-two (7.3％) out of the 572 HIV-infected adults were tested positive for HCV IgG.HCV infection was more likely to occur among participants who were infected with HIV through blood transmission (OR=49.46,95％CI:13.71-178.48).Otherwise,HCV infection was less likely to occur among participants who were under 46-86 years of age (OR=0.12,95％CI:0.02-0.58),those with mode of homosexual transmission of HIV (OR=0.11,95％ C I:0.01-0.86),with education of high school or above (OR=0.13,95％ CI:0.02-0.78).Thirty-three (78.6％) of the total 42 HIV-HCV patients with coinfection had detectable plasma HCV RNA,whereas 9 (21.4％) had undetectable plasma HCV RNA (i.e.,lower than 5.0 × 102 IU/ml) or known as relative HCV viral suppression.No significant associations were noticed on factors as:HCV viral suppression and demographics,HIV transmission route and CD4 + T-cell counts according to univariate regression analyses.Conclusion Prevalence of HCV co-infection was relatively high among newly diagnosed HIV-infected adults in this study area.Majority of the HIV-HCV coinfected patients had detectable plasma HCV RNA,of which the long term impact on disease progression deserves called for further research.

Prevalence and network-characteristics of risky sexual behaviors among clients receiving methadone maintenance treatment at clinics in Taizhou prefecture of Zhejiang province / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To investigate the risky sexual behaviors,associated factors and characteristics of sexual network among clients receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) at the clinics in Taizhou prefecture of Zhejiang province.Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted.Data was collected through questionnaire and from the national unified MMT system.Urine was collected to test heroin,methamphetamine,3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and ketamine.Blood was collected to test infections on HIV,hepatitis C vims(HCV) and syphilis.Results Totally,362 clients were recruited.Most of the clients were male (88.7％),31--40 year-olds (54.5％),married (61.6％) and having received junior high school education (56.6％).85.1％ of them received urine test with 82(26.6％) positive for heroin,21 (6.8％) positive for methamphetamine,19 (6.2％) positive for MDMA and none for ketamine.77.1％ of them received blood test,and prevalence rates for HIV,HCV and syphilis were 1.1％,36.7％ and 3.6％.19.5％ of the clients who had sex in the past 6 months.Factors as having multiple sexual partners and positive for club drugs were under higher risk.Sexual networking seemed to be loose,linear and acyclic among this population but overlapping with the drug-using network.Conclusion Effective and targeted interventions should be taken among the MMT clients since continuing drug use and HIV/STD related sexual behavior were found common in them,suggesting there was a risk of HIV/STD transmission in this ppulation.