Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among foreigners living in Guangzhou, China: a cross-sectional study (2010-2017).

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The prevalence of HIV/HCV/HBV/ Treponema pallidum is an essential health issue in China. However, there are few studies focused on foreigners living in China. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and socio-demographic distribution of HIV, HBV, HCV, and T. pallidum among foreigners in Guangzhou in the period of 2010-2017.

METHODS:

A cross-sectional study was conducted to screen serological samples of 40,935 foreigners from 2010 to 2017 at the Guangdong International Travel Health Care Center in Guangzhou. Samples were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HCV, syphilis antibody (anti-TPPA) and anti-HIV 1 and 2. We collected secondary data from laboratory records and used multiple logistic regression analyses to verify the association between different factors and the seroprevalence of HIV/HBV/HCV/ T. pallidum.

RESULTS:

The prevalence of HBV/HCV/HIV/ T. pallidum was 2.30, 0.42, 0.02, and 0.60%, respectively, and fluctuated slightly for 7 years. The results of multiple logistic regression showed that males were less susceptible to HBV than females (odds ratio [OR] = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.67-0.89). Participants under the age of 20 had a lower risk of HBV (OR = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.18-0.35), HCV (OR = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.02-0.18), and T. pallidum (OR = 0. 10, 95% CI: 0.05-0.20) than participants over the age of 50. Participants with an education level below high school were more likely to have HBV (OR = 2.98, 95% CI: 1.89-4.70) than others, and businessmen (OR = 3.02, 95% CI: 2.03-4.49), and designers (OR = 3.83, 95% CI: 2.49-5.90) had a higher risk of T. pallidum than others. Co-infection involved 58 (4.20%) total cases, and the highest co-infection rate was observed for HBV and T. pallidum (2.60%).

CONCLUSION:

The prevalence of HBV/HCV/HIV/ T. pallidum was low among foreigners in Guangzhou. Region, gender, age, educational level, and occupation were risk factors for positive infection.

• Authors: Benard Chimungu, Muqing Fu, Jian Wu, Jiali Wu, Liping Huang, Yingchun Dai, Shixing Tang, Jianming Zhang, Chengsong Wan
• Journal: BMC infectious diseases (BMC Infect Dis) Vol. 20 Issue 1 Pg. 345 (May 14 2020) ISSN: 1471-2334 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 32410628 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Coinfection (epidemiology)
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Emigrants and Immigrants
• Female
• HIV Infections (epidemiology)
• HIV-1 (immunology)
• Hepatitis B (epidemiology)
• Hepatitis C (epidemiology)
• Humans
• Infant
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prevalence
• Risk Factors
• Seroepidemiologic Studies
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases (epidemiology)
• Socioeconomic Factors
• Syphilis (epidemiology)
• Young Adult