Abstract: | Although 10,676 people were officially reported to be infected with HIV on China's mainland by the end of June 1998, experts estimate that more than 300,000 Chinese are actually infected with HIV in China. They also believe HIV continues to spread in alarming fashion. Two thirds of reported HIV infection cases live in rural China, and nearly one third of the 301 people diagnosed as having AIDS have died. About 10% of all HIV infections occurred among teenagers under age 19 years old, with most infected through IV drug use. 60% of teens who responded to a survey in 1997 did not possess correct basic knowledge about AIDS, and 21% did not know how to protect themselves from contracting HIV. |