TARGETED HIV SEROPREVALENCE AMONG VIETNAMESE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Objective-The prevalence of HIV among southern California Vietnamese i s unknown. We collected seroprevalence data on targeted Vietnamese in Orange County, California who may be at risk for HIV infection. Method s-The assumption of elevated risk was based on rates of infection repo rted among other U.S. groups. Vietnamese (N = 874) from six county sit es were tested during 1992: (1) attendees at county HIV/STD clinics an d (2) IDU program; (3) male inmates of the county jail and (4) of a ju venile detention centre; (5) males in a driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) remedial program; and (6) patients for nonpregnancy-rel ated syphilis screening. Results-The number of cases detected and risk factors were: (1) county HIV/STD clinics-5/223 (2.3%), all men who ha d sex with men; (2) men's jail-1/122 (0.8%), risk factors unknown; (3) juvenile hall-1/145 (0.7%), risk factors unknown; (4) IDU program-0/3 3; (5) syphilis screening-0/284; and (6) DUI program-0/67. Conclusions -HIV infection exists among southern California Vietnamese, and men wh o have sex with men appear to be at a risk for HIV infection similar t o others practicing high risk behaviors in the U.S. population. Preven tive education needs to be targeted explicitly at these individuals.