Attach importance to effectiveness of the aids sentinel surveillance program: Study on HIV/STD-related behavioral characteristics and influencing factors of HIV infection among male patients attending STD clinics in a coastal region of Zhejiang Province.

Male patients attending sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics are a key sentinel population for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) surveillance. This study analyzed the prevalence of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis C infections, behavioral intervention characteristics, and associated risk factors among male patients attending STD clinics to evaluate the effectiveness of sentinel surveillance and providing reference data for improving acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) prevention and control measures. From 2018 to 2021, a total of 400 male patients aged 15 years and older, who actively sought care at the dermatology and STD clinic of a sentinel hospital, underwent face-to-face anonymous questionnaire surveys and blood tests for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis C antibodies. Their results were compared with those of other outpatient attendees during the same period. Between 2018 and 2021, most of the male patients tested for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis C were local residents, middle-aged adults, and married individuals. The overall awareness rate of AIDS prevention and treatment was 76.18%, with a year-on-year improvement. Among the participants, 42.88% had received condom promotion and distribution, 5.81% had undergone community-based maintenance therapy or clean needle distribution, and 19.13% had participated in peer education. A high proportion reported commercial or casual sexual partnerships within the last 3 months. A smaller proportion reported a history of male-to-male sexual behavior or intravenous drug use. The HIV and syphilis positive rates among male patients attending STD clinics were higher than those of other outpatients during the same period. Multivariate analysis indicated that non-local residency (odds ratio (OR) = 5.791), history of male-to-male sexual behavior (OR = 13.34), and a prior diagnosis of STD within the past year (OR = 4.106) were significant risk factors for HIV infection among STD clinic patients. Conducting HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis C testing in STD clinics can effectively identify more cases, improving screening efficiency and enabling early diagnosis and treatment for positive patients. Targeted preventive interventions are essential to enhance knowledge of HIV prevention and translate it into protective behaviors, reducing the occurrence of high-risk activities. This approach is critical to controlling the spread of AIDS and demonstrates significant representativeness in evaluating program outcomes.