HIV and sexual risk behaviours amongst intravenous drug users at rehabilitation centre in rural China

Abstract

The study is aimed at investigating the sexual and HIV risk behaviours of intravenous drug users (IDUs) 
in rural Southwest China and the relationships between the demographics of the population, needle 
sharing and condom use. 993 IDUs at a drug rehabilitation centre in Dali, Yunnan Province completed 
an anonymous structured questionnaire between November and December 2006. IDUs were involved in 
multiple HIV risk behaviours. 37.5% admitted to sharing needles in the past and very few sterilised their 
needles using the correct technique. A third had engaged in multiple partnerships and 17.9% had a 
sexual partner who was also an IDU. Only 12.6% always used condoms during vaginal sex- this figure 
was even lower for oral (7.5 - 7.9%) and anal sex (14.3 - 16.1%) . Males were less likely to use condoms 
compared to females (p < 0.001). 60.8% of the population had never had a HIV test. In the regression 
model, occupational status, marital status and daily dose of heroin were significant independent 
predictors of condom non-use. Sex, ethnicity, months and frequency of injecting were significant 
independent predictors of sharing needles in the past. A worrying number of IDUs in rural China are 
engaged in HIV risk behaviours despite recent government prevention programmes. Further 
educational interventions are required to target these behaviours.