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Trends of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections, Estimated HIV Incidence, and Risky Sexual Behaviors Among Gay Bathhouse Attendees in Taiwan: 2004–2008

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Abstract

Five serial cross-sectional surveys were done at eight gay bathhouses in Taiwan to investigate the trends of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and estimated HIV incidence between 2004 and 2008. Bathhouse attendees completed a questionnaire and tests for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis C virus, and amoebiasis. Twenty-nine (38.6%) were identified as having recent HIV-1 infections. There was a significant increase in HIV incidence, from 7.8% in 2004 to 15% in 2007 (χ2 = 17.59, P-trend <0.001). Recreational drug use is the primary risk behavior. Comprehensive screening programs in gay bathhouses for early detection of HIV and STIs are important.

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Acknowledgments

We thank all study participants. We are grateful to our laboratory staff: Lin-Wun Mao, Wen-Chuan Liu, Hung-Muo Chen, and Wen-Jai Chang. We thank Associate Professor Susan J. Fetzer, MBA, RN, PhD, for reviewing this manuscript. This study was supported by grants from the Center for Disease Control, Department of Health, Executive Yuan, Taiwan and National Health Research Institutes (HNRI-CN-CL9603S).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nursing, National Cheng Kung University College of Medicine, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC

    Nai-Ying Ko

  2. Department of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University College of Medicine, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC

    Hsin-Chun Lee & Wen-Chien Ko

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC

    Hsin-Chun Lee, Nan-Yao Lee, Chia-Ming Chang & Wen-Chien Ko

  4. Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC

    Chien-Ching Hung

  5. National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC

    Fan-Chen Tseng & Wen-Chien Ko

  6. Taiwan Love and Hope Association, Kaoshiung, Taiwan, ROC

    Jui-Ling Chang

  7. AIDS Care Association, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC

    Meng-Ping Lee

  8. Tongzhi Hotline Association, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC

    Bo-Jie Chen

  9. Institute of Molecular Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC

    Shainn-Wei Wang

Authors
  1. Nai-Ying Ko
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  2. Hsin-Chun Lee
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  3. Chien-Ching Hung
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  4. Fan-Chen Tseng
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  5. Jui-Ling Chang
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  6. Nan-Yao Lee
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  7. Chia-Ming Chang
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  8. Meng-Ping Lee
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  9. Bo-Jie Chen
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  10. Shainn-Wei Wang
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  11. Wen-Chien Ko
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shainn-Wei Wang.

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Ko, NY., Lee, HC., Hung, CC. et al. Trends of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections, Estimated HIV Incidence, and Risky Sexual Behaviors Among Gay Bathhouse Attendees in Taiwan: 2004–2008. AIDS Behav 15, 292–297 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-010-9748-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-010-9748-2

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