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No fully validated Chinese instrument measuring severity of drug dependence exists. The Chinese Opiate Addiction Severity Inventory (OASI) and the translated Chinese version of the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) were validated in this study. A total of 178 eligible participants were recruited using snowballing method. The 11-item revised version of OASI (OASI-R) exhibited good reliability (item-total correlation coefficients ranged from 0.50 to 0.73, Cronbach's alpha was 0.85, test-retest Intra-class Correlation Coefficient was 0.81, p < 0.001). Two factors were identified by principal component method and correlated significantly with the Quality of Life-Drug Addiction (QOL-DA). The 3-item revised version of SDS (SDS-R) was one of the two factors of SDS (item-total correlation coefficients were 0.79 to 0.86, Cronbach's alpha was 0.78, test-retest Intra-class Correlation Coefficient was 0.64, p < 0.001). It correlated significantly with QOL-DA. OASI-R and SDS-R were also significantly correlated with each other and with some heroin-related characteristics. The validation of the Chinese version of OASI-R and SDS-R would facilitate research in different Chinese populations. SDS has been translated to different languages and the Chinese version allows for international comparison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The study evaluates the overall effectiveness of intervention programs among female sex workers in a Chinese community. Study Design: Behavioral surveillance data in 2003, 2004, and 2005 obtained from 2 communities (intervened and control) were compared. Results: The baseline data (2003) of the 2 counties were not significantly different. In 2004 and 2005, the intervened county had significantly higher prevalence of condom use with their clients and regular sex partners (last-time and consistent use in the last month; OR = 2.2-33.2 in 2004 and 3.8-8.3 in 2005), higher HIV-related knowledge level (OR = 7.9 in 2004 and 17.3 in 2005), and lower STD prevalence (OR = 0.22 in 2004 and 0.11 in 2005). Coverage rates of HIV antibody testing and HIV-related services increased in the intervened county but decreased in the control county. Conclusions: Intervention programs may result in substantial behavioral changes in a community within a few years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two longitudinal surveys were carried out in 1996 and 1999 aimed at describing the situations of AIDS-related discrimination in the workplace and evaluating the effectiveness of some social interventions against discrimination towards HIV-positive employees. Two hundred and ninety-nine and 212 companies completed a questionnaire in 1996 and 1999, respectively. The results are mixed. Although most of the sampled companies had no HIV/AIDS-related policy, their awareness of related legislation increased over the three-year period. Over the three-year study period, more companies indicated they would disclose information of their HIV-positive employees if known to the company; however, fewer companies indicated they would dismiss an employee because of his or her HIV-positive status. Only a few companies indicated that they would provide counselling and support to an HIV-positive employee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Large population growth surveys of children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 y were undertaken in Hong Kong in 1963 and 1993. The global epidemic of obesity is a major public health concern. To monitor the impact of this epidemic in Hong Kong children and to identify secular changes in growth, a further growth survey was undertaken in 2005/6. Methods: Cross-sectional height and weight measurements of 14,842 children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 y from Hong Kong's 18 districts were obtained during the 2005/6 school year. Percentile curves were constructed using LMS method and sex-specific percentile values of weight-for-age, height-for-age, and BMI-for-age were compared with those data from 1963 and 1993. Results: Secular changes in height, weight and BMI were noted between 1963 and 1993 and between 1993 and 2005/6. In the latter period, greater changes were observed at younger ages, and particularly in boys. On an annual basis, the 1993-2005/6 changes were less than those during 1963-1993. Using the International Obesity Task Force cut-offs, 16.7% of children were overweight or obese in 2005/6, which was a 5.1% increase since 1993. Conclusion: These data provide policy-makers with further evidence of the secular changes in child growth and the increasing obesity epidemic among Hong Kong children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]