Behavioral Aspects of HIV Prevention in China

Abstract

Globally, HIV transmission dominantly occurs through unprotected sexual acts. Although China has not yet what many would consider a widespread AIDS epidemic, the incidence rate of HIV infection has risen sharply over the past decade. To be able to effectively reduce incidence, it is important to achieve radical behavioral changes – both between individuals and across large groups of people at-risk. China knows a number of risk population groups for HIV infection, namely conventional high risk population groups (For examples: sex workers and men who have sex with men) and general population groups who are at risk yet have been less concerned in HIV prevention. In this thesis, we describe a number of studies on the identification of risk factors and determinants of HIV-related behaviors among several high risk yet neglected general population groups, including health care workers, college students and general internal migrants, in China. We also explore the elements bridging these determinants into effective and practical HIV prevention interventions. Our aim was to contribute to the development of effective preventive measures against HIV infections in the neglected high risk populations.