Yugang Bao1, Jun Jing2, Yanhui Zhang3, Huasheng Li4, Liangui Feng5, Zhen Ning6, Hongzhuan Tan7. 1. School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), Beijing 100009, China. 2. Department of Sociology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. 3. Hunan Provincial Health Information, Education and Communication Center, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China. 4. Kunming Health Bureau, Kunming, Yunnan 650011, China. 5. Chongqing Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, Chongqing 400042, China. 6. Shanghai Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, Shanghai 200336, China. 7. School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China. Email: tanhz99@qq.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The risk of HIV sexual transmission is much higher among people unaware of their HIV status than among those aware. Only a few studies have indicated that the incidence of unsafe sex can be reduced when people know their HIV status. This study was to investigate this effect in China. METHODS: A cohort study consisting of two surveys was conducted at two different times among a group of people living with HIV/AIDS, whose status was newly diagnosed with HIV via sexual contact, in Shanghai, Chongqing, and Kunming. The first survey was conducted among 823 people tested positive for HIV before notifying them of the HIV status. The second survey was conducted among 650 HIV-positive people at six months following the first survey (after notification of HIV status). The scope of survey covered unsafe sex practices, number of unsafe sexual partners, and frequency of unsafe sexual behaviors over the prior six months. Unsafe sex is defined as unprotected anal or vaginal sex with partners who are HIV positive or whose HIV status is unknown. RESULTS: The proportion of unsafe sex was reduced by about 85% after HIV status notification. The risk of HIV sexual transmission was 15 times higher among persons unaware of their HIV status than among those aware. Approximately 95% of new sexually transmitted HIV infections stemmed from 56% of the infected persons unaware of their HIV status in China. CONCLUSION: Timely HIV status notification has the potential to significantly reduce unsafe sex among HIV-infected persons and reduce the risk for HIV transmission via unsafe sex.
BACKGROUND: The risk of HIV sexual transmission is much higher among people unaware of their HIV status than among those aware. Only a few studies have indicated that the incidence of unsafe sex can be reduced when people know their HIV status. This study was to investigate this effect in China. METHODS: A cohort study consisting of two surveys was conducted at two different times among a group of people living with HIV/AIDS, whose status was newly diagnosed with HIV via sexual contact, in Shanghai, Chongqing, and Kunming. The first survey was conducted among 823 people tested positive for HIV before notifying them of the HIV status. The second survey was conducted among 650 HIV-positive people at six months following the first survey (after notification of HIV status). The scope of survey covered unsafe sex practices, number of unsafe sexual partners, and frequency of unsafe sexual behaviors over the prior six months. Unsafe sex is defined as unprotected anal or vaginal sex with partners who are HIV positive or whose HIV status is unknown. RESULTS: The proportion of unsafe sex was reduced by about 85% after HIV status notification. The risk of HIV sexual transmission was 15 times higher among persons unaware of their HIV status than among those aware. Approximately 95% of new sexually transmitted HIV infections stemmed from 56% of the infected persons unaware of their HIV status in China. CONCLUSION: Timely HIV status notification has the potential to significantly reduce unsafe sex among HIV-infectedpersons and reduce the risk for HIV transmission via unsafe sex.
Authors: Ruchi Tiwari; Jiayu Wang; Hannah Han; Ngozi Kalu; Lee B Sims; David A Katz; Barbara Burke; Adino T Tsegaye; Kayla A Carter; Sophie Freije; Boya Guo; Mohamed Albirair; Magdalena Barr-DiChiara; Rachel Baggaley; Muhammad S Jamil; Kafui Senya; Cheryl Johnson; Christine M Khosropour Journal: J Int AIDS Soc Date: 2020-11 Impact factor: 5.396