Characteristics and sexually transmitted diseases of male rural migrants in a metropolitan area of Eastern China

GOAL: The goal of this study was to identify the correlates and determine the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among male rural migrants in Shanghai, China. STUDY: The authors conducted a community-based cross-sectional study with an anonymous questionnaire interview and collection of blood and first-void urine samples for STD screening. RESULTS: One thousand eighty-six (85.3%) of 1273 male rural migrants approached were interviewed. Among the 986 sexually active migrants, the prevalence of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis was 3.5%, 0.5%, and 1.0%, respectively. None were infected with HIV. The prevalence of STDs was 3.2% for construction workers, 5.6% for market vendors, and 5.6% for factory workers. Risk factors for STDs were longer duration in Shanghai, frequent hometown visits, having multiple sex partners, and the desire to have multiple sex partners. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of STDs among male rural migrants is relatively low. Maintaining the current low prevalence can reduce the risk of an HIV epidemic among Shanghai migrants, but prevention messages need to be tailored to the low level of literacy in many migrants.