INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION
In 2007, 33.2 million people were estimated to be living
with HIV worldwide (WHO, 2007). Many countries, in
particular those in Sub-Saharan Africa, are at the height
of an epidemic, others are believed to be on the brink of
one: China is one of these countries (UN Theme Group,
2001). Recent figures indicate that the prevalence of HIV
infection is less than 0.1% and the number of those
infected only 650,000 (UNAIDS, 2006); however the
number infected could potentially increase to 10 million
by 2013 (UN Theme Group, 2001) where IUD would have
a major role to play (Zhang et al., 2002).
Having the largest number of HIV cases of any
province in China, Yunnan is located on the South-West
frontier of the country sharing a common boundary line
with Myanmar on the West and with Laos and Vietnam in
*Corresponding author. E-mail: wongwcw@hku.hk. Tel: (852)
2518 5657. Fax: (852) 2814 7475.
the South. Intravenous Drug Use (IDU) is at the forefront
of the HIV epidemic in Yunnan: In 2006, just under half of
all people diagnosed with HIV were infected whilst using
contaminated needles (UNAIDS and WHO, 2007). Moreover,
whilst HIV risk behaviours such as needle sharing
and unprotected intercourse are on the rise, there has
been increasing evidence to indicate HIV infection is
spreading from high risk groups such as IDUs to the
general population (UN Theme Group 2005).
In 2006, with the hope of investigating HIV and sexual
risk behaviours, data were collected from a large sample
of IDUs institutionalised at a drug rehabilitation centre in
Dali for the prefecture of a population of 3.3 million, which
is not only a frequented rural tourist destination but also
known to be part of a major drug-trafficking route from
neighbouring countries into China. As a result, it has
suffered the significant burden of heroin abuse coupled
with HIV infection in this social setting.
At present little is known about the HIV risk behaviours
of IDUs within this rural setting. Previously several