AEGiS-14IAC: HIV/AIDS in China.

14th International AIDS Conference


Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

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HIV/AIDS in China.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. E11420)

Grusky O, Liu H, Johnston M
University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States

BACKGROUND: China is facing a major crisis because of the increasing epidemics of HIV/AIDS and other STDs. The goal of this paper is to analyze the capacity of China's health care system, its governmental HIV/AIDS policies, and the epidemiology of the epidemics, with a focus on changes in the methods of transmission.

METHODS: A literature search was done of six electronic databases, selected English and Chinese sources, and selected English newspaper reports. Prevalence rates are based on official estimates of the Ministry of Health and Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine even though UNAIDS experts suggest that they underestimate the true rates. Results and

CONCLUSIONS: The following typify the HIV/AIDS and other STDs epidemics: (1) The situation regarding the HIV/AIDS and other STDs epidemics is urgent and requires rapid, comprehensive preventive actions at the federal and local levels. Acknowledgement of the urgency of the situation by the top political leaders is needed. (2) China's health care system is decentralized and under funded and access to treatment by the poor is seriously limited. Few have health insurance.(3) There has been a serious lag in public knowledge and in knowledge among health care officials about HIV/AIDS and other STDs. Stigmatization of persons living with HIV is a major problem. Anonymous testing and antiretroviral treatment are virtually non-existent.(4) The epidemic emerged initially in rural areas in Yunnan by means of intravenous drug use and this remains a major method of HIV infection. (5) Blood collection problems account for a significant portion of the persons infected by the HIV virus. (6) Sexual risk behaviors in rural and urban areas appear to be of increasing importance as a method of transmission of the virus.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, HIV Seropositivity, Prevalence, Sex Behavior, China, Risk-Taking, Disease Outbreaks, Anonymous Testing, Substance-Related Disorders, EpidemiologyKWDaegis,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,hivinfections,hivseropositivity,prevalence,sexbehavior,china,risk-taking,diseaseoutbreaks,anonymoustesting,substance-relateddisorders,epidemiology

020707
E11420

Copyright © 2002 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.