BMC Infectious Diseases
Volume 14, Issue 1, 2014

Rural-to-urban migrants are at high risk of sexually transmitted and viral hepatitis infections in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis (Article) (Open Access)

Zou X. , Chow E.P.F. , Zhao P. , Xu Y. , Ling L.* , Zhang L.
  • a Faculty of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, #74, Zhongshan Road II, Guangzhou, 510080, China, Sun Yat-sen Centre for Migrant Health Policy, Sun Yat-sen University, #74, Zhongshan Road II, Guangzhou, 510080, China
  • b The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  • c Faculty of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, #74, Zhongshan Road II, Guangzhou, 510080, China, Sun Yat-sen Centre for Migrant Health Policy, Sun Yat-sen University, #74, Zhongshan Road II, Guangzhou, 510080, China
  • d Faculty of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, #74, Zhongshan Road II, Guangzhou, 510080, China, Sun Yat-sen Centre for Migrant Health Policy, Sun Yat-sen University, #74, Zhongshan Road II, Guangzhou, 510080, China
  • e Faculty of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, #74, Zhongshan Road II, Guangzhou, 510080, China, Sun Yat-sen Centre for Migrant Health Policy, Sun Yat-sen University, #74, Zhongshan Road II, Guangzhou, 510080, China
  • f Sun Yat-sen Centre for Migrant Health Policy, Sun Yat-sen University, #74, Zhongshan Road II, Guangzhou, 510080, China, The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Abstract

Background: Rapid economic development in urban China has led to a mass migration of surplus rural residents into urban areas for better employment opportunities. This study aims to identify prevalence levels and risks of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and hepatitis among the rural-to-urban migrant population in China. Methods: Chinese and English literature databases were searched for studies reporting prevalence of HIV, STIs and viral hepatitis among rural-to-urban migrants in China between 1990 and 2013. The estimates were summarised through a systematic review and meta-analysis. The risks of infection were compared between migrants and the general Chinese population. Results: We identified a total of 411 eligible studies. The prevalence of HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, genital warts and HCV among migrants were 0.23% (0.20-0.27%), 0.69% (0.57-0.84%), 2.18% (1.30-3.64%), 1.54% (0.70-3.36%) and 0.45% (0.31-3.65%), representing 4.0 (3.1-5.2), 1.9 (1.1-3.0), 13.6 (5.8-32.1), 38.5 (15.7-94.5) and 3.8 (1.9-7.3) higher odds of infection than among the general population. Construction workers, long-distance truck drivers and migrant women through marriage were migrant subgroups that were highly susceptible to STIs and hepatitis. HIV prevalence among migrant pregnant women (0.10%, 0.02-0.49%) was significantly higher than that of pregnant women in the general Chinese population (OR = 7.7, 3.4-17.4). However, no significant differences were observed in STIs and hepatitis between overall female sex workers (FSWs), men who have sex with men (MSM) and drug users (DUs), and the corresponding subgroups with a migratory background.Conclusions: Rural-to-urban migrants have a higher risk of STIs and hepatitis than the general Chinese population, but a migratory background does not increase the infection risks of STIs and hepatitis in FSWs, MSM and DUs. © 2014 Zou et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

urban population China rural to urban migrant Chinese Human immunodeficiency virus infection human risk assessment statistics and numerical data rural population driver men who have sex with men virus hepatitis sexually transmitted disease meta analysis Sexually Transmitted Diseases marriage gonorrhea migrant Humans male female high risk population prostitution Syphilis prevalence hepatitis Article adult migration drug abuse construction worker infection risk pregnant woman Transients and Migrants systematic review infection sensitivity condyloma acuminatum Chlamydia Infections hepatitis C
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84907280753&doi=10.1186%2f1471-2334-14-490&partnerID=40&md5=6ce06d7a94ac4ab30495918fd4c8f8bd
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-14-490
ISSN: 14712334
Cited by: 31
Original Language: English