ABSTRACT
The human immunodeficency virus (HIV) pandemic is expanding most rapidly in Asia. China and Vietnam are experiencing growing epidemics of HIV that have been, to date, largely concentrated among injection drug users. The initial groups of recruits received training from the Centre for Harm Reduction of the McFarlane Burnet Institute in Melbourne, Australia. This training was delivered over 2 weeks in Ning Ming and 1 week in Lang Son. It included basic information on HIV/AIDS and HIV transmission routes. The survey included HIV antibody testing. Participants were given pre-test counseling and post-test counseling at local health centers. Blood was drawn at the time of the interviews by trained phlebotomists from local health departments. Participants were given a card with their unique identifier and told that they could return on a certain date to the local health center to receive their test results using this number.
