Gonorrhea in China, 2018

Abstract

Objective: \nGonorrhea is a globally widespread sexually transmitted infection caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This study is aimed to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of gonorrhea cases reported in China in 2018 and provide evidence for strategies making in the gonorrhea prevention and control programme. \n \n \nMethods: \nGonorrhea cases were extracted from National Notifiable Disease Report System (NNDRS) covering 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in the mainland of China. The overall incidence rate was calculated, as were rate per province, sex, age group, and occupation group. \n \n \nResults: \nIn 2018, 133,156 new cases of gonorrhea were reported in China, corresponding to an incidence rate of 9.59 cases per 100,000 population and having a 36.03% increase from 2014 (7.05 cases per 100,000 population). Zhejiang, Hainan, Guangdong, Fujian provinces, and Shanghai city had a higher reported rate (14.05-28.00 per 100,000 population). Hebei, Tianjin, Tibet, Heilongjiang, and Jilin provinces had a lower reported rate (1.56-5.19 per 100,000 population). The males had a much higher incidence than the females (15.81 per 100,000 vs. 3.08 per 100,000) and a faster rising rate (38.32% vs. 27.27%). The highest rate was detected in the aged 25–29 years both of male and female (46.37 and 6.60 per 100,000, respectively), followed by those aged 30–34 years (41.12 and 6.39 per 100,000, respectively). The largest proportion of gonorrhea cases was among the farmers accounting for 27.74%, followed by the unemployed persons (24.67%), business persons (17.02%) and industrial workers (9.50%). \n \n \nConclusion: \nIn general, gonorrhea has an increasing trend from 2014 and remains a common notifiable disease in China in 2018. Young males who are sexually active are high risk populations for gonococcal infection. The southeast coastal areas with developed economy have a higher rate of gonorrhea reported. Corresponding strategies on disease prevention and control should be performed on the high risk populations and regions. \n \n \nKey words: \ngonorrhea;\xa0incidence rate;\xa0China;\xa0high risk;\xa0occupation