Genitourinary symptoms in urban China: a population-based study

Abstract

Analysis of the first population-based sexual health survey in China found a prevalence of self-reported genitourinary (GU) symptoms among 2999 urban respondents for men and women as follows: burning (12.5% and 15.7%), discharge (2.6% and 20.1%), ulcer (1.3% and 3.6%) and warts (1.2% and 2.0%). Risk factors among men were unprotected commercial sex, short-term and other secondary partners, and living elsewhere than a coastal area or a major city. Among women, risk factors were her main partner's having other concurrent partners or socializing often, and her absence of condom use with her main partner, prior forced sex, low education and living elsewhere than a coastal area or a major city. These findings were consistent with many GU symptoms being concentrated in paths that led from commercial sex workers or short-term partners to husband/steady partner to wife/steady partner. The results also reveal factors other than sexual behaviour as predictors for GU symptoms.