A majority of the city's HIV carriers and AIDS patients have a poor educational background, say experts from the Shanghai Public Health Center.

Research found that most people affected with HIV had middle school education or below.

"People with better education always have higher awareness of self-protection and a better understanding of how to prevent AIDS and other sex-related diseases," said the health center's Lu Hongzhou.

Cases of HIV/AIDS reported in Shanghai last year were nearly 70 percent higher than those in 2005, Shanghai Health Bureau officials said. By November 20 last year, the city had registered 621 new HIV carriers, compared with the previous year's 370. It also reported 46 new AIDS patients, double 2005's figure.

Shanghai's first HIV case was reported in 1987, and the total reached 2,313 last year with 100 deaths.

According to last year's figures, more than 80 percent of HIV carriers were from out of town, and in that group intravenous drug use was the main cause. For people living in the city, the chief culprit was unprotected sex.

The bureau is opening methadone maintenance centers in seven districts.

(Shanghai Daily November 23,2007)