PLoS ONE
Volume 10, Issue 10, 2015
Risk factors of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in China: A systematic review of reviews (Review) (Open Access)
Zhao Y. ,
Luo T. ,
Tucker J.D. ,
Wong W.C.W.
-
a
Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
-
b
Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
-
c
University of North Carolina Project-China, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
-
d
Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Abstract
Background: Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are a global challenge. China, once said to haveeradicated STIs, is now facing a rapid rise in the prevalence of HIV/STIs. This review of reviews aims to map HIV/STI risk factors among the Chinese population, with the objectiveof identifying risk factors to inform the formulation of effective prevention strategies. Methods: A systematic search using key terms related to HIV/STIs, risk factors and the Chinese population in both English and Chinese databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library; Wanfang data, CNKI, VIP and SINOMED) was conducted, and peer-reviewed systematic reviews on the topic from 1991 to 2014 were selected. Identified risk factors were groupedinto different level determinants based on the HIV Social Epidemiology Model, and then evaluated and reported based on the PRISMA checklist. Findings: Of the twenty-eight reviews included, the majority were focused on well-established, individuallevel risk factors within key populations, with some highlighting the complexity of interacting factors (e.g., alcohol use and higher income in male migrants). While twenty-tworeviews covered individual factors, only ten mentioned social factors and five had contents on structural factors. There are gaps in the evidence on social and structural level impactsof HIV/STIs, such as on stigma, discrimination, health policy, access to care, and illicit drug control policies. Migration and social expectation appear to pose a significant threat inaggravating the HIV/STI situation in China; for example, incarceration patterns indicated a significant risk of HIV/STIs for female sex workers. Conclusions: Since international guidelines recommend an integrated and multi-level approach to HIV/STI prevention, a comprehensive approach targeting interventions at all levels along the continuum of care is needed to effectively curtail HIV/STI transmission in China. Moreresearch is needed to better understand the impact of socio-political interventions within a Chinese context. © 2015 Zhao et al.This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Author Keywords
[No Keywords available]
Index Keywords
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84948991570&doi=10.1371%2fjournal.pone.0140426&partnerID=40&md5=957c3e5a451aa9bbaaabdd9609d5854f
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140426
ISSN: 19326203
Cited by: 9
Original Language: English