HIV-INFECTION AND AIDS IN CHINA, 1985 THROUGH 1994

Objectives. This paper analyzes data on the distribution of and risk f actors for the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and human imm unodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in China. Methods. Ten years of da ta on persons tested for HIV infection and AIDS and the proportion who tested positive were analyzed against the background of China's popul ation count. The Chinese- and English-language literature on HIV and A IDS from 1985 through 1995 was also reviewed. Results. Overall, more m ales than females had HIV infection. Intravenous drug use was the prim ary source of transmission, followed by heterosexual contacts. Only a small number of the persons tested were homosexual, but their proporti on of Hn, seropositivity ranked third to that of drug users; that of g eneral hospital patients ranked fourth. Conclusions. HIV infection and AIDS in China began as a highly regionalized and largely rural proble m in Yunnan Province. However, HIV infection and AIDS have become an e merging urban problem. HIV seropositivity is low among several groups thought to have an elevated risk.