Surveillance for AIDS in men who have sex with men in Honghe, Yunnan, 2011-2012

Objective To understand the HIV related knowledge awareness, risk behavior and infection status in men who have sex with men (MSM) in Honghe, Yunnan province, and provide evidence for the development of AIDS prevention and control strategies. Methods The sentinel surveillance data in MSM in Honghe during 2011-2012 was analyzed. Questionnaire survey was conducted among the MSM. And blood samples were taken from them for HIV, HCV and syphilis antibody testing. Results Among 410 and 501 MSM surveyed in 2011and 2012,the awareness rate of HIV/AIDS related knowledge was 89.75% and 93.21% respectively; 95.85% and 97.60% of the MSM had anal homosexual behaviors in the past six months; 15.37% and 12.57% of the MSM had commercial homosexual behavior in the past six months and 15.37% and 18.36% of the MSM had heterosexual activity in the past six months. The rate of condom use in homosexual activity in the past six months was 48.35% and 60.12%. The rate of condom use in heterosexual activity in the past six months was 22.22% and 27.17%. The HIV positive rate was 2.93% and 2.00%. The HCV positive rate was 5.85% and 1.40% and the syphilis positive rate was 0.24% and 2.40%. Conclusion HIV related risk behaviors were prevalent in the MSM surveyed in Honghe despite the high awareness rate of AIDS related knowledge among them. The HIV testing rate was low too. It is necessary to improve the targeted intervention among MSM.