Risk factors for HIV infection among 15 to 25-year-old rural unmarried Yi adolescents in an ethnic minority region of China

We aimed to analyze factors related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among 15 to 25-year-old rural unmarried Yi adolescents in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture from 2011 to 2016, and to investigate the relationship among the HIV-related risk factors. Three sites (Butuo, Zhaojue, and Ganluo counties) with a Yi population were selected from 2011 to 2016 in Liangshan prefecture. We used questionnaires to investigate demographic and behavioral characteristics and performed HIV testing. Logistic regression analysis and multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) were used to analyze the data. A total of 6311 qualified rural unmarried Yi adolescents were involved in this study, with an HIV infection rate of 4.18% (264/6311). Logistic regression analysis indicated that males (OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.17–2.08), illiteracy (OR = 2.70, 95% CI = 1.79–4.08), primary school education or below (OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.12–2.36), history of out-migrating for work (OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.18–2.13), and injecting drug user (IDU) (OR = 6.42, 95% CI = 3.06–13.46) contributed to the risk of HIV infection. MCA revealed a strong interrelationship between the following risk factors and HIV infection: aged 23 to 25 years, IDU, history of out-migrating for work, and ever having sexual behaviors. HIV infection among 15 to 25-year-old rural unmarried Yi adolescents in Liangshan is a serious issue. MCA and logistic regression analysis can be used to assess the relationship between risk factors for HIV infection.