Combating HIV/AIDS in Mainland China: an epidemiological review of prevention and control measures

Two decades have already passed since the first HIV/AIDS case was described in 1981. Cumulatively, over 20 million people have unfortunately lost their lives, and more than 40 million people are now living with HIV, and most of them are from developing countries. China, as the biggest developing country, has an impact on the epidemic of HIV/AIDS. From the first case of AIDS diagnosed in Mainland China in 1985, the epidemic has spread at an alarming rate. The feature of HIV/AIDS spread in Mainland China concerns its geographical characteristics that can be described as occurring in three phases. According to data from World Health Organization (WHO), it was estimated that about 840,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS in China, and 80,000 of them have already developed AIDS. WHO warned that, if there were no effective preventive measures adopted, that the number of HIV/AIDS infected cases would reach 10 million in China by 2010. In this study, we described the current situation of the epidemic of HIV/AIDS, as well as an historic review. The development of policy-making and the control measures are also highlighted. The experience from China described in this study would hopefully be for more public awareness of this crisis that is threatening all the citizenry of China.