Basic information of tropical cyclones landing on Guangdong province from 2005–2011.

<p>Infectious diarrhea cases during tropical cyclone periods were shown in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0131423#pone.0131423.t002" target="_blank">Table 2</a>. From 2005 to 2011, there was no cholera case in Guangdong province. Other infectious diarrhea (infectious diarrhea other than cholera, dysentery, typhoid and paratyphoid) cases were the most frequent disease. Bacillary dysentery and amebic dysentery cases ranked the second, followed by typhoid and paratyphoid. The proportions were 86.76%, 10.95%, and 2.29% respectively.</p><p>Basic information of tropical cyclones landing on Guangdong province from 2005–2011.</p

HRs of tropical cyclones on the risk of other infectious diarrhea on different lagged days.

<p>For total population, the impact of tropical depressions was largest at lag 1 day for other infectious diarrhea. The HR and 95% confidence interval was 1.95 (95%CI: 1.22, 3.12). The impacts of all tropical storms, severe tropical storms and typhoon were largest at lag 0 and HRs were 2.16 (95%CI = 1.69, 2.76), 2.43 (95%CI = 1.65, 3.58) and 2.21 (95%CI = 1.65, 2.69), respectively. For the “≤5 years” group, the influences of all tropical cyclones were largest at lag 0 for other infectious diarrhea. In another word, there were no delayed effects for tropical cyclones on other infectious diarrhea among “≤5 years” group. HRs were 2.67 (95%CI = 1.10, 6.48), 2.49 (95%CI = 1.80, 3.44), 4.89 (95%CI = 2.37, 7.37) and 3.18 (95%CI = 2.10, 4.81), respectively. Fig 3 also shows that the impacts of severe tropical storms were largest among all grades of tropical cyclones on other infectious diarrhea both for total population and “≤5 years” group.</p

The number of infectious diarrhea cases during tropical cyclones periods (April to October) in Guangdong province from 2005 to 2011.

<p>The number of infectious diarrhea cases during tropical cyclones periods (April to October) in Guangdong province from 2005 to 2011.</p

Case and control periods defined in the case-crossover design.

<p>In addition, principal component analysis (PCA) was used to eliminate the multicollinearity among meteorological factors. PCA was an effective method to reduce the dimensionality of a number of interrelated variables, while retaining the maximum variability in the data [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0131423#pone.0131423.ref022" target="_blank">22</a>]. The standard of extracting principle components was that the eigenvector is larger than 1 and cumulative proportion reaches 70 percent to 85 percent. In this study, we confirmed 3 principle components. Then we tested the multicollinearity between tropical cyclone and three principle components and none was detected. Hence, tropical cyclone and three principle components were put into conditional logistic regression and hazard ratios (HRs) as well as 95% CI were calculated. Previous studies have reported a delayed onset of symptoms and subsequent hospitalization of diarrhea extreme precipitation [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0131423#pone.0131423.ref023" target="_blank">23</a>]. Incubation periods of infectious diarrhea can range from one day (e.g., for Salmonella and Rotavirus) to up to one or two weeks (e.g., for Cryptosporidium, E.coli and Giardiasis) [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0131423#pone.0131423.ref020" target="_blank">20</a>]. To account for the incubation periods, the 7-day lagged effects were considered in this study. All statistical analyses were performed using SAS 9.2 (SAS Institute Inc., USA).</p

Relationship between tropical cyclones and infectious diarrhea in the landfall cities of Guangdong province, from 2005 to 2011 (<i>P</i> values of Mann-Whitney U test).

<p>*<i>P</i><0.05</p><p>Relationship between tropical cyclones and infectious diarrhea in the landfall cities of Guangdong province, from 2005 to 2011 (<i>P</i> values of Mann-Whitney U test).</p

Factors Associated with Willingness to Accept Oral Fluid HIV Rapid Testing among Most-at-Risk Populations in China

<div><p>Background</p><p>The availability of oral fluid HIV rapid testing provides an approach that may have the potential to expand HIV testing in China, especially among most-a-risk populations. There are few investigations about the acceptability of oral fluid HIV testing among most-at-risk populations in China.</p> <p>Method</p><p>A cross-sectional study with men who have sex with men (MSM), female sex workers (FSW) and voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) clients was conducted in three cities of Shandong province, China from 2011 to 2012. Data were collected by face-to-face questionnaire.</p> <p>Results</p><p>About 71% of participants were willing to accept the oral fluid HIV rapid testing, and home HIV testing was independently associated with acceptability of the new testing method among MSM, FSW and VCT clients (AOR of 4.46, 3.19 and 5.74, respectively). Independent predictors of oral fluid HIV rapid testing acceptability among MSM were having ever taken an oral fluid HIV rapid test (AOR= 15.25), having ever taken an HIV test (AOR= 2.07), and education level (AOR= 1.74). Engagement in HIV-related risk behaviors (AOR= 1.68) was an independent predictor of acceptability for FSW. Having taken an HIV test (AOR= 2.85) was an independent predictor of acceptability for VCT clients. The primary concern about the oral fluid HIV testing was accuracy. The median price they would pay for the testing ranged from 4.8 to 8.1 U.S. dollars.</p> <p>Conclusion</p><p>High acceptability of oral fluid HIV rapid testing was shown among most-at-risk populations. Findings provide support for oral rapid HIV testing as another HIV prevention tool, and provide a backdrop for the implementation of HIV home testing in the near future. Appropriate pricing and increased public education through awareness campaigns that address concerns about the accuracy and safety of the oral fluid HIV rapid testing may help increase acceptability and use among most-at-risk populations in China.</p> </div