Epidemiological characteristics of HIV/AIDS deaths in Ningbo

Objective To understand the epidemiological characteristics HIV/AIDS deaths in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, and provide evidence for the reduction of HIV/AIDS mortality. Methods The data of HIV/AIDS deaths between 2001 and 2015 in Ningbo were collected from Chinese AIDS prevention and Control Information System and analyzed by using SPSS 19.0 software. Results By the end of 2015, 225 HIV/AIDS deaths had been reported, in which 80% were AIDS cases. The average age at death was 50.0017.00 years. Among the death cases, 85.33% were infected through sexual contacts, 4.44% were infected by contaminated blood. Only 41.33% of the death cases had ever received antiretroviral therapy. The differences in survival time of HIV/AIDS death cases was significantly different among groups with different death years, death causes and status of anti-retroviral therapy. The mortality rate of HIV infections gradually decreased and remained at 6.50% in recent 3 years. Conclusion Among the HIV/AIDS death cases in Ningbo, the proportion of receiving anti-retroviral therapy was low. AIDS developed in most death cases. It is necessary to expand the coverage of antiretroviral therapy to improve the survival of people living with HIV/AIDS.