Objective To measure the A IDS-related risk behaviors and the prevalence of HIV, HCV and syphilis infection among female drug users in Guangdong province.
Methods Face-to-face interviews were conducted by way of anonymity with self-designed questionnaire among 143 female drug users in one of Women Re-education Center in Guangdong and blood samples were collected and tested for HIV, HCV and syphilis.
Results (1) 143 blood samples were collected and 7 of them were confirmed anti-HIV positive.The prevalence of HIV, HCV and syphilis in 143 drug users were 4.9%, 83.2%(119/143)and 32.9%(47/143)respectively and in 115 IDUs were 6.1%(7/115), 95.7%(110/115)and 32.8%(42/115)respectively.(2)Among 115 IDUs 72.2% was reported lifetime sharing needles.44.5% female drug users were reported sharing needles during the 30 days before entering re-education center, of them 48% shared needles with their regular sexual partner.(3)During one year before entering re-education there were 128 people who ever had sexual intercourse.40.6% of them was reported having more than one sex partners, 57.8% having a IDU sexual partner and 27.3% trading sex for money/drugs.74.1% was reported never using condom with their regular sexual partner during the 30 days before entering re-education center.(4)14% was reported having STD and 50% having STI-related symptoms in one year before entering re-education center.
Conclusion The prevalence of HIV and syphilis infection were high among female drug users in Guangdong.Risk behaviors relating to HIV such as needle sharing and unsafe sex existed commonly.Effective intervention programs should be taken immediately to prevent the HIV transmission among female drug users and from them to the general population.
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