Premarital sex, contraceptive use among unmarried women migrant workers in industrial parks in Vietnam, 2015

Assessing Barriers and Utilization of Sexual and Reproductive Health Services among Female Migrant Workers in Vietnam

Young migrant women workers frequently experience disparities in accessing health services, including sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, especially in urban settings. This study assesses the barriers and utilization of SRH services and explores factors associated with the utilization of these services among young female migrant workers working in the industrial zone (IZ) in Vietnam. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1061 young women migrant workers working in an IZ in Hanoi, Vietnam. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with utilization of SRH services. Nearly 35% of the participants reported using SRH services at least once since working in the IZ. Additionally, around 78% of the participants reported using a contraceptive method during their last sexual encounter. The study also found that older participants (25-29 years old) were nearly two times more likely to use SRH services than younger participants (18-24 years old) (OR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.19-3.06). Married participants had nearly six times higher odds of using SRH services compared to single participants (OR = 5.98, 95% CI: 3.71-9.63), and participants with higher incomes were more likely to use SRH services (OR = 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01-1.04). The most commonly reported barriers to access SRH services were inconvenient hours of service operation (26.2%), followed by long distance from the service location (9.2%) and high service cost (5.2%). This study found a low level of SRH service utilization and identified several barriers to accessing these services among the study participants. The study findings provide important evidence insights for policymakers and program managers to develop and implement policies that help reduce barriers and enhance the provision of SRH services tailored to the needs of IZ married and unmarried women migrant workers in the IZ in rapidly developing and urbanizing countries like Vietnam and other low- and middle-income countries with similar contexts.

Sexual Risk Behaviors, HIV Prevalence and Access to Reproductive Health Services Among Young Women Migrant Workers in the Industrial Zones in Vietnam

Background: Young migrant workers working in the industrial zones (IZ) in low and middle-income countries are at risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. This study examines the sex-related risks of young women migrant workers in the IZ in Vietnam. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1,061 young migrant women working in the IZ park in Hanoi, Vietnam. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with HIV testing and condom use at last sex. Results: A total of 1,061 young women migrant workers completed the survey in which 652 participants consented to take the initial rapid HIV test. All but one participant tested negative indicating a HIV prevalence of 150 (95% CI: 27-860) per 100,000 population among this population. There were no differences in sexual behavior, use of sexual and reproductive health services, HIV knowledge, perceived HIV risk or alcohol use between those who were HIV tested and those not tested. Single participants reported high rates of first sex while living in the IZ and high rates of condom use during the first-time sex, however, they had low levels of condom use at last sex. While the majority of married participants used the SRH/HIV services, nearly 80% of the single participants who reported having sex never used SRH/HIV services since living in the IZ. However, single participants were over 4 times more likely to use condoms at last sex compared to married participants (OR = 4.67; 95%CI = 2.96-7.85). Participants with vocational school or higher education was more likely to use condom (OR = 2.19; 95%CI = 1.05-4.57). Neither HIV knowledge or alcohol use were associated with condom use. Conclusions: Although HIV prevalence is very low among young women workers in the IZ in Vietnam, a significant number of them engaged in risky sexual behavior and low levels of condom use at last sex as well as low level of using SRH/HIV services highlights a need to develop interventions that provide tailored-made and cultural appropriate SRH education for unmarried female migrant workers to prevent risky sexual behaviors, sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy.

Characterizing Unsafe Sexual Behavior among Factory Workers in the Context of Rapid Industrialization in Northern Vietnam

Industrial workers or factory workers, especially migrant workers, have been found to be vulnerable populations at risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, there has been a gap in literature regarding health behaviors of migrant factory workers. We conducted a cross-sectional study among 230 factory workers in Hanoi and Bac Ninh cities in Northern Vietnam from July to September 2018 to identify sexual risk practices and related factors among migrant and nonmigrant factory workers. Information collected regarding sexual behavior included the number of sexual partners in the previous 12 months and whether they used condoms in their last sexual intercourse. Two-thirds of participants reported having no sexual activity in the last 12 months, and there was a low percentage of participants using condoms in their last sexual intercourse. Being female, living with spouses/partners, and being a nonimmigrant had a negative association with the lack of using condoms in the last sexual intercourse with casual partners/sex workers, as opposed to having mobility and self-care problems and identifying as a binge drinker. Therefore, workplace-based prevention programs focusing on providing tailored sexual health education and promoting condom use among industrial workers, especially those who are immigrant or migrant workers, in Vietnam should be emphasized.

Health Inequality between Migrant and Non-Migrant Workers in an Industrial Zone of Vietnam

Vietnam has experienced massive internal migration waves from rural to industrialized zones. However, little efforts have been made to understand differences in health conditions and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between local and migrant industrial workers. This study aimed to examine the inequality in health status and HRQOL between these workers. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 289 Vietnamese workers at three industrial areas in Hanoi and Bac Ninh. Self-reported health status and HRQOL were measured using the EuroQOL-5 dimensions-5 levels (EQ-5D-5L) instrument. Sociodemographic, working, and environmental factors were also investigated. Overall, the mean EQ-5D index was 0.74 (SD = 0.21) and the average number of health problems in the last 12 months in our sample was 1.91 (SD = 1.63) problems. Migrant people had a lower EQ-5D index (β = −0.08, p < 0.01) and more health problems (β = 0.20, p < 0.05) compared to local workers. Those being male, working in the same posture more than 60 min, and exposed to more hazards at work were correlated with a lower EQ-5D index and higher number of health problems. The results highlighted inequalities in health status and HRQOL between migrant and local workers. Reinforcing regular health check-ups, ensuring sufficient protective equipment and working conditions may help improve the health outcomes of the workers.