[Survey on HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and behavior of high risk population in Taiyuan City]

To understand the status of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and behavior of high risk population in Taiyuan City, and to explore the correlation between the two factors.

The questionnaires were designed according to the questionnaire for monitoring the behavior of HIV/AIDS-related high risk population in China, the basic knowledge, high-risk behavior and so on were included in the questionnaires. A random cluster sampling and stratified sampling method was used to interview with commercial sex workers, drug users and MSM (men who have sex with men) in Taiyuan City. EpiData 3.02 and SPSS 13.0 were used for data analysis.

In the total of 531 respondents recruited in this study, 186 were commercial sex workers, 238 were drug users and 107 were MSM. The awareness of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge in sex workers was 61.9%, in drug users was 77.2% and in MSM was 90.4%. The condom user in sex workers at the last sexual activity was 74.9%, and in MSM was 58.9%. Sharing needle with others in intravenous drug users during the month before entering into the drug addiction treatment center was 57.9%. Except of sex workers in the top grade entertainment places, there was no statistically significant correlation between knowledge and behavior in these three high risk groups (r(s) = 0.789, P < 0.01).

The awareness of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and the frequency of using condom among these three high risk groups are relatively low. Health education as well as behavioral intervention should be emphasized.