1. HIV-1 and STIs Prevalence and Risk Factors among Miners and Female Sex Workers in the Mining Areas of Gejiu, Yunnan, China
Ding Guowei, M.D., M.S.
National Center for AIDS/STD Control & Prevention
Chinese Center for Disease Control & Prevention
Research entitled
“Epidemiology of HIV-1 and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections in Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China,”
China Comprehensive Integrated Program for Research on AIDS
funded by
the United States National Institutes of Health

2. Background of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Yunnan Province, China
The joint PRC Ministry of Health and UNAIDS assessment in 2005 estimates that there are currently 650,000 PLWHA in China;
The HIV/AIDS surveillance in China led by the National Center for AIDS/STD Control & Prevention under the China CDC by the end of the first half of 2007 has reported over 210,000 accumulative HIV/AIDS cases in China, including 55,000 some AIDS patients and over 17,000 deaths;
Yunnan has the most severe HIV/AIDS epidemic in China, mainly affected by illegal drug trade and underground commercial sex activities;
Until the end of June, 2007, nearly 50,000 HIV/AIDS cases, including nearly 5,000 AIDS patients and over 1,600 deaths, have been reported in this province which is home to various ethnical minorities and borders several Southeast Asian countries.

3. Objective
Prevalence study of HIV-1 and other STIs among miners and female sex workers (FSWs);
To assess risk factors for acquiring HIV;
Methods
A cross-sectional study conducted among the enrolled subjects sampled from the designated populations in two townships with tin mining by
- direct-structured interviews, and
- lab testing for HIV/STIs.
Studied populations: miners and female sex workers (FSWs);
Locations: the tin mining areas of Gejiu City in Yunnan Province, located in southwestern China.

4. Results (Prevalence) Miners FSWs Enrollment 1,798 96
HIV – Plasma + for antibody
(95% CI)
0.7%
(0.3%~1.1%)
8.3%
(2.8%~13.8%)
Syphilis
1.8%
12.5%
Chlamydia trachomatis
4.8%
46.3%
Neisseria gonorrhea
0.8%
36.8%
HSV-2
9.6%
70.8%
Trichomonas vaginalis -
22.1%

5. Results (Miner risk factors)
Adjusted OR
95% CI
HIV assoc. Drug use
17.81
4.03~78.75
HIV assoc. Frequency of purchasing sex/past 12 months
8.68
1.93~39.03
HIV assoc. Tattoo history
6.55
1.79~24.04
HIV assoc. History of surgical operation
6.00
1.60~22.54
HIV assoc. Toothbrush sharing
5.64
1.02~31.29
In addition, 21.6% of the miners reported at least one sexual experience with an FSWs;
72.0% reported never using a condom with any FSW.

6. Results (FSWs risk factors)
95% CI
HIV assoc. Drug use
62.24
9.41~411.45
In addition, 11.5% of FSWs self-reported the use of illegal drugs.

7. Conclusions
High prevalence of HIV/other STIs in the mining areas in Gejiu of Yunnan, especially in the FSWs population;
Miners relatively low prevalence of HIV/other STIs, yet frequently reported high-risk behaviors and illegal drug use;
Target-oriented prevention programs, treatment are extremely important to the communities featuring
1) high HIV transmission rate, and
2) sizable floating populations from rural areas.
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