The Vietnam Administration for AIDS Control (VAAC) of the Ministry of Health announces the results of the HIV/STI Integrated biologic and behavioral surveillance (IBBS) that was conducted in seven provinces in 2005 and 2006. This set of surveys estimated the prevalence of HIV, other sexually transmitted infections (STI), risk behavior levels, and intervention exposure among injection drug users, female sex workers, and men who have sex with men.

Highlights of the surveys included the following:

• HIV prevalence among IDU averaged the highest of all population groups measured but varied across provinces. The highest rates were in Hai Phong (66%) and Quang Ninh (59%) and the lowest in Danang (2%) and An Giang (13%). The data showed evidence of rapid HIV transmission among a large new and young injecting population. For example, almost half of IDU in HCMC (48%) were under 25 years-old and about one-quarter (24%) had injected less than one year. However, HIV was quick to spread among both of these groups, with 33% and 28%, respectively, already HIV-infected.
• Over 10% of FSWs were HIV-infected in five out of seven provinces, with street-based sex workers (SSW) in most areas registering higher HIV prevalence than karaoke-based sex workers (KSW). The highest HIV prevalence was among SSW in Can Tho (29%) and Hanoi (23%). HIV infection among sex workers was highly correlated with injection drug use, with injecting sex workers from 3.5 to 31 times more likely to be HIV-infected than non-injectors.
• HIV prevalence among MSM was 5% in HCMC and 9% in Hanoi but these were not statistically significant differences. Other STI were also relatively high among MSM. For example, over one in 10 men in Hanoi (12%) were infected with rectal gonorrhea and 8% had rectal chlamydia. In total, 22% of MSM in Hanoi and 16% in HCMC had at least one STI.
• The surveys showed that coverage of interventions programs is increasing but still needs to be improved. Use of voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) services was highest among IDU in Hai Phong (40%) and FSW and IDU in Hanoi, 35% and 34%, respectively. In HCMC, where a scale-up of VCT has occurred in recent years, approximately one in five of all high-risk groups reported that they have been HIV tested and know the results. However, over three-quarters of people living with HIV in the measured groups did not know that they are HIV-infected. For example, 90% of HIV+ MSM in Hanoi, 84% of HIV+ IDU in Can Tho, and 82% of HIV+ FSW in An Giang were unaware of their status.

The surveys were conducted by the MOH National Institute for Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) in collaboration with the VAAC, Provincial AIDS Centers and Committees, and Provincial Centers for Preventive Medicine. Technical assistance was provided by Family Health International (FHI), the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), with funded provided by USAID through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

Copies of the report can be obtained from Ms. Thuy at FHI at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or from Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan at NIHE at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Technical questions can be directed to Dr. Tuan at NIHE at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or to Dr. Tran Vu Hoang at FHI at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . A PDF copy of the IBBS report will soon be placed on the Vietnam UNAIDS website at www.unaids.org.vn and the FHI website www.fhi.org .