Trends of HIV/Syphilis/HSV-2 seropositive rate and factors associated with HSV-2 infection in men who have sex with men in Shenzhen, China: A retrospective study

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the trends of HIV/syphilis/HSV-2 seropositive rate and explore the related factors with HSV-2 infection to provide the basis for adjusting STD intervention strategies and formulating prevention and control measures among MSM in Shenzhen. METHODS: Time-location sampling was conducted among MSM in Shenzhen in 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018. Data on demographics, sexual behaviors and the laboratory test results of HIV, syphilis, HSV-2 were collected. The χ(2) trend test was used to analyze the trends of HIV/syphilis/HSV-2 seropositive rate. The binary logistic regression model was used to explore the factors associated with HSV-2 infection. RESULTS: The seropositive rate of HIV fell significantly from 15.9% in 2012 to 8.7% in 2018 (P(trend) = 0.003), syphilis seropositive rate was significantly decreased from 20.4% in 2012 to 14.8% in 2018 (P(trend) = 0.025), HSV-2 seropositive rate had no significant change (16.7% in 2012 to 14.0% in 2018; P(trend) = 0.617). In principal component logistic regression analysis showed that FAC1_1 (X(1) = Ever had sex with female, X(2) = Gender of first sexual partner, X(3) = Marital status, X(4) = Age group), FAC2_1 (X(5) = Education, X(6) = Monthly income (RMB), X(7) = Frequency of condom use in anal sex with men in the past 6 months), and FAC4_1 (X(9) = History of STDs) were significantly associated with HSV-2 infection. CONCLUSIONS: The seropositive rates of HIV and syphilis have dropped significantly but are still high. HSV-2 seropositive rate had no significant change and maintained a high level. It is necessary to continue strengthening HIV and syphilis interventions among MSM in Shenzhen. HSV-2 detection and intervention are urgently required for MSM, which might be another effective biological strategy further to control the HIV epidemic among MSM in Shenzhen.