SW CHINA: BIG CITY GAY HIV PREVALENCE EXCEEDS TEN PERCENT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 CHENGDU 000282 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE PASS NIH/FOGARTY CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL HEALTH DEPT FOR EAP/CM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SOCI PGOV KHIV CH SUBJECT: SW CHINA: BIG CITY GAY HIV PREVALENCE EXCEEDS TEN PERCENT CHENGDU 00000282 001.2 OF 003 ¶1. (U) This cable contains sensitive but unclassified information and is not for Internet distribution. ¶2. (SBU) Summary: The HIV rate among gay men living in Chengdu, Guiyang, Kunming, and Chongqing exceeds 10 percent, according to a large nationwide survey conducted by the China Centers for Disease Control (CDC) during 2009. CDC researchers reported in 2008 that HIV prevalence among gay men in Chengdu rose from one percent in 2004, to eight percent in 2007, to 10 percent in ¶2008. Chengdu physician Jiang Hua, leader of the Aibai NGO, said multiple approaches are needed to raise awareness about HIV among the gay population, including better information, more democratically managed gay groups, and more respectful treatment of this vulnerable population. The Chinese government has given an NGO in Yunnan Province a grant to reach out to the gay community through a local gay bar; media attention has now delayed its opening. Between 40 and 74 percent of gay Chinese men have sexual relations with women; owing to intense social pressure, the great majority of gay Chinese men marry women. One researcher told us President Obama's and Secretary Clinton's positive statements about gay people contrasted favorably with the angry dismissal by the PRC MOFA spokesman of a question about gays in China. End summary. China CDC Interview: SW China Big City Gay HIV Prevalence Exceeds Ten Percent -------------- -------------- ¶3. (U) China CDC HIV/AIDS Prevention Center Director, Professor Wu Zunyou, told the PRC newspaper "International Leader" [Guoji Xianqu Daobao] in late November 2009 that a March - May 2008 survey of 58,000 gay men found a prevalence rate of 4.9 percent nationwide, and as high as 15 percent in some cities [URL at tinyurl.com/HIV-gay-SWChina]. A series of three surveys in 2009 involving 56,000 gay men gave a clearer idea of the geographical distribution of HIV/AIDS among this population group. HIV incidence was highest among gay men in southwestern China, with rates exceeding 10 percent in Guiyang, Kunming, Chengdu, and Chongqing. Infection rates are far lower among lesbian women. Several years ago in southwest China, Wu said, "Among 100 gay men we would find only one who was HIV positive ... Now we find 10." ¶4. (U) PRC Ministry of Health figures on HIV incidence show that the proportion of gay men among all newly reported HIV cases is increasing each year -- from 12.2 percent of the 50,000 new cases of HIV AIDS in 2007, to 32.5 percent of the 48,000 newly reported HIV infections in 2009. Wu commented that various surveys show that between 40 and 74 percent of gay men have sexual relations with women, adding that the rates of HIV infection among their female partners is unknown. Professor Zhang Beichuan of Qingdao University says the fact that the great majority of gay men are in the closet creates conditions for the rapid spread of HIV. Zhang estimates that owing to intense social pressure, the great majority of gay men marry women. ¶5. (U) The number of HIV positive people in China is probably around 740,000, up from the estimated 700,000 with HIV in 2007, the "China Daily" reported November 25. Michel Sidibe, Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programmes on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) said "Infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) is a real cause for concern... In some southwestern urban areas, up to 20 percent of the MSM population is HIV-positive today." Chengdu CDC Study: HIV Prevalence Among Chengdu Gay Men Reached 10 Percent in 2008 -------------- -------------- ¶6. (U) A 2008 study by three Chengdu CDC researchers published in the August 2009 issue of the "Journal of Occupational Health and Injury" found that the HIV prevalence rate among gay men in Chengdu rose from one percent in 2004, to eight percent in 2007, CHENGDU 00000282 002.2 OF 003 based on annual surveillance sampling surveys of about 200 gay males each year. (See appendix in para 13.) The article, entitled "HIV Risk and Behavior of Men Having Sex with Men in Chengdu City from 2004 - 2007," found a rapid increase in HIV prevalence. Most of the gay men had multiple partners, and an increase in the number of gays under age 20 was noted. The authors noted that Chengdu, compared with many other Chinese cities, is relatively open-minded about homosexuality, and has a large migrant and transient population. Reported condom use in last sexual encounter increased from 55 percent 2004 to 63 percent in 2007, yet the authors believe actual condom use is significantly less than is reported. In meetings this year with NGOs, the Chengdu CDC released the 2008 figure: 10 percent HIV prevalence among gay males in Chengdu. Developing Respect-Based Strategies for HIV/AIDS Intervention Among Gay Men -------------- ¶7. (U) Dr. Jiang Hua and colleagues, in an article published in the August 2009 issue of the "Journal of Preventive Medicine Information," discussed the challenges of HIV/AIDS intervention with gay men in Chinese cities, and the rapid rise in the HIV prevalence rates in gay men in several large Chinese cities from 2002 - 2007. Jiang et al cite a prevalence of HIV among gay men in Chongqing of 10.4 percent in 2006 from a sample of 1000 gay men, and 16.9 percent in 2007 from a sample of 586 gay men, based on a study supported by the Global Fund of HIV/AIDS. ¶8. (U) According to the article, since 2002 there have been over 117 working groups established in China to study gay males and HIV "men who have sex with men," with 4100 volunteers, and over 50 websites set up to spread information on HIV prevention among gay men. Dr. Jiang says that respect is very important in communicating hazards and best practices to gay Chinese men. Disrespect and marginalization result in anger that makes effective intervention more difficult. Even the appellation common in Chinese medical circles for gay males, "men who have sex with men," is far from ideal, Dr. Jiang said, because it defines people by sexuality. Gay people are human beings first, with all their rights and needs, and then have a sexual preference, he said. ¶9. (U) The affiliation of gay people in local communities in which gay men learn from one another, an idea that arose in the West, has promise for China, Jiang felt. The authors call from more accurate media reporting and education in the high school and university level that can change prejudices against gay people in China. There is little known about the culture of Chinese gays, something that needs to be better understood in order to design more effective interventions and peer and psychological support for gay men at risk of contracting HIV, or who already have HIV. Government-supported Gay Bar: Reaching Out to the Gay Community -------------- -------------- ¶10. (U) The first government-backed gay bar in China is about to open in the tourist city of Dali, in Yunnan Province, PRC media reported on November 29. Media interest in the story was strong. Health authorities in Dali have given the NGO, Dali HIV/AIDS Health Care Promotion Association, 120,000 RMB for HIV prevention work, with half that amount earmarked for the gay bar. NGO founder Dr. Zhang Jianbo said the gay bar would provide a way to reach out to the gay community. "Without a platform, it has been almost futile trying to reach this group of people," Zhang told the South China Morning Post on November ¶30. ¶11. (U) Several PRC media outlets on December 2 reported that this bar closed after operating one day and will re-open later after media attention has subsided. Qingdao University's Zhang Beichuan told China National Radio "media attention to gay issues is a two-edged sword. Too much media attention tends to vilify and stigmatize gay people." [URL at tinyurl.com/gaybar-closed ] CHENGDU 00000282 003.2 OF 003 Contrasting Attitudes: PRC MOFA and U.S. State Department -------------- -------------- ¶12. (SBU) Dr. Jiang Hua, a Chengdu physician who leads the Aibai gay men's NGO (website at www.aibai.cn),said that persuading gay people to use condoms and use other safe sex practices will depend upon a wide range of social and psychological interventions. Social climate is important for building self-respect, and with it respect for the health and safety of oneself and others. Jiang was moved by President Obama's (on the Aibai website in Chinese at tinyurl.com/obama-aibai) and Secretary Clinton's (at URL tinyurl.com/clinton-aibai) June statements about gay rights. Aibai translated both statements into Chinese and featured on them on its website. Dr. Jiang contrasted this with the June 18th response of the PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs press spokesman, who when asked about why PRC government's Green Dam net filtering software would eliminate mention of gay people, "This is the press room of the PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not some gay people's meeting!" Many people criticized the MOFA press spokesman on the Aibai website (URL tinyurl.com/mofa-gaychinese ). ¶13. (U) Appendix: Journal references for paragraphs four and five: ¶A. "HIV Infection and Risk Behavior of Men Having Sex with Men in Chengdu City From 2004 to 2007," in Journal of Occupational Health and Injury [Zhiye weisheng yu bingshang], August 2008. ¶B. "The Challenges on China's HIV/AIDS Intervention for Male Having Sex with Male: An Appraisal Based Evidence from Community, Behavior and Sociological Research," in Journal of Preventive Medicine Information [Yufang Yixue Qingbao Zazhi], July 2009 ¶C. "Urgent Needs for Evidence-Based Interventions for Young Chinese Gay Men: Results and Recommendations from Two Studies," by Jiang Hua, M.D.,(AIBAI),Sean Dickson (University of Chicago),Charles Damien Lu, PhD (Department of Sociology, East China Normal University) et al., in an August 2009 release from Aibai. BROWN