Prevalence of recent HIV-1 infection and its influencing factors among HIV-positive men who have sex with men in Tianjin from 2013 to 2015

Objective To investigate the status of recent HIV-1 infection among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) in Tianjin and the associated factors. Methods General demographic information of newly reported HIV/AIDS cases transmitted through homosexual contact was collected from 2013 to 2015, and HIV blood samples were detected to identify recent HIV-1 infection using IgG-capture BED-enzyme immunoassay (BED-CEIA), then the annual proportion of recent HIV-1 infection was calculated. Factors associated with recent HIV-1 infection were analyzed by the univariate and multivariate unconditional Logistic regression. Results A total of 1 474 HIV/AIDS cases transmitted through homosexual contact were reported in Tianjin from 2013 to 2015, and 495 recent HIV-1 infection cases were identified, the rate was 45.7%. Demographic characteristics of recent HIV-1 infection cases were similar from 2013 to 2015(all P>0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that patients who aged <25 years (OR=1.639, 95% CI:1.089-2.466) and students (OR=1.984,95% CI:1.144-3.442) were more likely to be newly infected. The cases who had a high school education level (OR=1.460,95% CI:1.059-2.013) or college education level (OR=1.392, 95% CI:1.003-1.931) were more likely to be newly infected than those who had a primary school education. Compared with being identified by hospitals, the recent HIV-1 infections were more likely to be found through voluntary counseling and testing (OR=3.658, 95% CI:2.393-5.590), STD admission to hospital (OR=3.784, 95% CI:2.262-6.329), men who have sex with men (MSM) investigation (OR=4.021, 95% CI:2.700-5.987) and unpaid blood donation (OR=5.192, 95% CI:2.775-9.712). Conclusions Proportion of recent infection was at a high level among HIV-positive MSM in Tianjin. It is necessary to strengthen the promotion of HIV active surveillance, and intervention should be focused on MSMs at young age, with higher education levels and students, in order to reduce the secondary transmission.