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Jiang T, Pan X, Ma Q, Jiang J, Chen L, Wang H, Zhou X, Chen W. Characteristics of low-tier female sex workers who engage in commercial sex with old male clients in Zhejiang province, China: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e049410. [PMID: 34785548 PMCID: PMC8596047 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To characterise low-tier female sex workers (FSWs) who engage in commercial sex with old male clients (OMCs). DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Twenty-one counties in Zhejiang province, China. PARTICIPANTS A total of 2647 low-tier FSWs who participated in our survey from September to November 2013, and responded to the question regarding whether they engaged in commercial sex with OMCs during the previous month. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Data on sociodemographic characteristics, sexual behaviours, risk perception of HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI), ever exposure to an HIV prevention service and degree of self-efficacy regarding condom use were collected via a face-to-face questionnaire administered by trained interviewers. RESULTS Of the 2647 participants, 1165 (44.0%) had engaged in commercial sex with OMCs in the previous month. Low-tier FSWs working out of roadside shops, those who had engaged in sex work for longer, those with a larger number of clients, those who had engaged in anal or oral sex during the previous month, those currently using contraception measures, those who had STI symptoms and those who had been exposed to HIV prevention services during the previous 6 months were more likely to engage in commercial sex with OMCs. FSWs with a high level of education; those working out of small venues other than streets, hair salons and roadside shops; those who charged more for commercial sex; those who had sex with young clients during the previous month and those who had seen a doctor during the previous 6 months were less likely to engage in commercial sex with OMCs. CONCLUSIONS Low-tier FSWs who engaged in commercial sex with OMCs reported more risky behaviours than those who did not engage in this behaviour. Attention should be paid to these behaviours in future interventions targeting low-tier FSWs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Jiang
- Department of HIV/STD prevention and control, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaohong Pan
- Department of HIV/STD prevention and control, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qiaoqin Ma
- Department of HIV/STD prevention and control, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianmin Jiang
- Department of HIV/STD prevention and control, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lin Chen
- Department of HIV/STD prevention and control, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of HIV/STD prevention and control, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xin Zhou
- Department of HIV/STD prevention and control, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wanjun Chen
- Department of HIV/STD prevention and control, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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HIV/AIDS Among Female Sex Workers in China: Epidemiology and Recent Prevention Strategies. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 2020; 17:151-160. [PMID: 32030600 DOI: 10.1007/s11904-019-00477-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review aims to describe the epidemiology of HIV among female sex workers (FSWs) in China over the past decade, to summarize current gaps in knowledge regarding risk factors, and to identify new directions for HIV prevention strategies. RECENT FINDINGS We summarized national and regional levels of HIV prevalence among FSWs based on reported rates in the literature from 2008 to 2018. Studies identified cases of HIV infection among FSWs in all but one province during this time period, and demonstrated a sporadic pattern in most provinces, with a low overall national HIV prevalence below 1%. However, in Yunnan and Guanxi Zhuang Autonomous Regions, the median-reported prevalence rates were close to or slightly above 1%. National prevention programs have widely promoted male condoms as a primary and practical measure for HIV prevention, but studies evaluating condom use practices among FSWs demonstrated wide variability. A rise in illicit use of synthetic drugs and changing sexual practices in the setting of sex work (e.g., anal sex) may represent newer risk factors for HIV transmission among FSWs; however, more data are needed to better characterize these trends. Limited studies have examined the feasibility and efficacy of innovative prevention tools (e.g., female condoms) or strategies (e.g., pre-exposure prophylaxis, PrEP) to prevent HIV among FSWs. We call for a more comprehensive understanding of current trends in HIV risk among FSWs, as well as more research focuses on innovative strategies to reduce the spread of HIV in this vulnerable population.
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Dong W, Zhou C, Rou KM, Wu ZY, Chen J, Scott SR, Jia MH, Zhou YJ, Chen X. A community-based comprehensive intervention to reduce syphilis infection among low-fee female sex workers in China: a matched-pair, community-based randomized study. Infect Dis Poverty 2019; 8:97. [PMID: 31791415 PMCID: PMC6889532 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-019-0611-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Low-fee female sex workers (FSWs) are at high risk of acquiring and spreading human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in China. There is an urgent need to develop comprehensive intervention measures targeted towards low-fee FSWs to reduce HIV/STD infections. Thus, this study aimed to reduce HIV/STD infections among low-fee FSW through a matched-pair, community-based randomized intervention trial carried out in 12 cities in three provinces in China. Methods Four cities from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, four from Yunnan Province, and four from Hunan Province were paired and participants received either the intervention package (including condom promotion, HIV and syphilis testing, reimbursement for syphilis treatment costs, and free anti-retroviral therapy or the current standard of care. Venue-based, convenience sampling was used to recruit FSWs. A face-to-face interview and HIV and syphilis blood testing was conducted at baseline and follow-up intervals of 24 months. Generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) were used to evaluate the effect of the intervention package on reducing HIV/STD infection in the FSWs. Results A total of 1024 eligible FSWs were enrolled in the baseline survey and 843 in the follow-up. GLMM results showed that syphilis infection was reduced by 49% in the intervention group compared to the current standard of care group (P = 0.0378, OR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.27–0.96). FSWs aged 35 years or older were 2.38 times more likely to get syphilis infection compared to those younger than 35 years old (P < 0.0001, OR = 2.38, 95% CI: 1.55–3.65). The risk of syphilis infection among more educated FSWs was 0.43 times less than those with lower levels of education (P < 0.05, OR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.63–0.93). Conclusions This study demonstrates that comprehensive interventions can lead to significant declines in syphilis infection amongst low-tier FSWs. Integrating both behavioral and biomedical intervention measures should be considered when developing programs for low-fee FSWs. Trial registration CHiCTR-TRC-12002655.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Dong
- Division of HIV Prevention, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 155 Changbai Road, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Chu Zhou
- Division of HIV Prevention, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 155 Changbai Road, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Ke-Ming Rou
- Division of HIV Prevention, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 155 Changbai Road, Beijing, 102206, China.
| | - Zun-You Wu
- Division of HIV Prevention, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 155 Changbai Road, Beijing, 102206, China. .,Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, USA.
| | - Jun Chen
- Division of HIV Prevention, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 155 Changbai Road, Beijing, 102206, China.,Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Sarah Robbins Scott
- Division of HIV Prevention, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 155 Changbai Road, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Man-Hong Jia
- Institute of AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Yunnan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Kunming, China
| | - Yue-Jiao Zhou
- Institute of AIDS Control and Prevention, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Division of AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Hunan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changsha, China
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