The increase of sexually transmitted infections calls for simultaneous preventive intervention for more effectively containing HIV epidemics in China

Objective: To identify the priority public health challenges with respect to the development of multipurpose prevention technologies in China.

Design: Review of published literature, databases of state and local disease control agencies and unpublished data relating to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Setting: China.

Population: General and migrant populations.

Methods: Review of published data, government reports and databases of China Disease Control agencies, and our unpublished studies.

Main outcome measures: Reported STI incidence, particularly HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and genital herpes, and the migrant population with respect to disease transmission.

Results: We found that the reported STI incidence increases along with that of HIV and showed significant geographic overlap with HIV. Economic migrant workers may facilitate the spread of STIs, including HIV.

Conclusions: To more effectively contain the HIV epidemic, it is imperative to develop preventive measures to simultaneously target HIV and other STIs. We recommend that the development of multipurpose prevention technologies in China should target HIV and STIs.