The resurgence of sexually transmitted disease in China

In the early years following the Chinese revolution in 1949, the Chinese mounted mass campaigns against the preventable communicable diseases including the venereal diseases. These were characterized by mass education, a national health insurance system, training and dispersion of the "barefoot doctors," elimination of prostitution, emancipation of women, and full employment. By 1996, the Chinese claimed that they had virtually eliminated venereal diseases. This was confirmed by western visitors in the 1970s. However, following the economic reforms which began in the 1980s, sexually transmitted diseases reappeared. Later, HIV infection appeared, and STDs today constitute a major public health problem in China. This resurgence parallels the privatization of the economy, the breakdown of the national health insurance system, the return of prostitution, and other factors.