Prevalence of syphilis infection in different tiers of female sex workers in China: implications for surveillance and interventions
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Syphilis has made a dramatic resurgence in China during the past two decades and become the third most prevalent notifiable infectious disease in China. Female sex workers (FSWs) have become one of key populations for the epidemic. I...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2012-04-01
|
| Series: | BMC Infectious Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/12/84 |
| _version_ | 1811295330696691712 |
|---|---|
| author | Chen Xiang-Sheng Wang Qian-Qiu Yin Yue-Ping Liang Guo-Jun Jiang Ning Yang Li-Gang Liu Qiao Zhou Yu-Jiao Huan Xi-Ping Wei Wan-Hui Wang Baoxi |
| author_facet | Chen Xiang-Sheng Wang Qian-Qiu Yin Yue-Ping Liang Guo-Jun Jiang Ning Yang Li-Gang Liu Qiao Zhou Yu-Jiao Huan Xi-Ping Wei Wan-Hui Wang Baoxi |
| author_sort | Chen Xiang-Sheng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Syphilis has made a dramatic resurgence in China during the past two decades and become the third most prevalent notifiable infectious disease in China. Female sex workers (FSWs) have become one of key populations for the epidemic. In order to investigate syphilis infection among different tiers of FSWs, a cross-sectional study was conducted in 8 sites in China.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Serum specimens (n = 7,118) were collected to test for syphilis and questionnaire interviews were conducted to obtain socio-demographic and behavioral information among FSWs recruited from different types of venues. FSWs were categorized into three tiers (high-, middle- and low-tier FSWs) based on the venues where they solicited clients. Serum specimens were screened with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for treponemal antibody followed by confirmation with non-treponemal toluidine red unheated serum test (TRUST) for positive ELISA specimens to determine syphilis infection. A logistic regression model was used to determine factors associated with syphilis infection.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Overall syphilis prevalence was 5.0% (95%CI, 4.5-5.5%). Low-tier FSWs had the highest prevalence (9.7%; 95%CI, 8.3-11.1%), followed by middle-tier (4.3%; 95%CI, 3.6-5.0%, <it>P </it>< 0.001) and high-tier FSWs (2.2%; 95%CI, 1.6-2.9%, <it>P </it>< 0.001). Factors independently associated with syphilis infection included older age, lower education level, geographic location, lower tier of typology, and injection drug use.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This multi-site survey showed a high prevalence of syphilis infection among FSWs and substantial disparities in syphilis prevalence by the tier of FSWs. The difference in syphilis prevalence is substantial between different tiers of FSWs, with the highest rate among low-tier FSWs. Thus, current surveillance and intervention activities, which have low coverage in low-tier FSWs in China, should be further examined.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T05:31:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1306c7689892423f81a36c99ce363c37 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2334 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T05:31:49Z |
| publishDate | 2012-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-1306c7689892423f81a36c99ce363c372022-12-22T03:00:25ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342012-04-011218410.1186/1471-2334-12-84Prevalence of syphilis infection in different tiers of female sex workers in China: implications for surveillance and interventionsChen Xiang-ShengWang Qian-QiuYin Yue-PingLiang Guo-JunJiang NingYang Li-GangLiu QiaoZhou Yu-JiaoHuan Xi-PingWei Wan-HuiWang Baoxi<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Syphilis has made a dramatic resurgence in China during the past two decades and become the third most prevalent notifiable infectious disease in China. Female sex workers (FSWs) have become one of key populations for the epidemic. In order to investigate syphilis infection among different tiers of FSWs, a cross-sectional study was conducted in 8 sites in China.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Serum specimens (n = 7,118) were collected to test for syphilis and questionnaire interviews were conducted to obtain socio-demographic and behavioral information among FSWs recruited from different types of venues. FSWs were categorized into three tiers (high-, middle- and low-tier FSWs) based on the venues where they solicited clients. Serum specimens were screened with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for treponemal antibody followed by confirmation with non-treponemal toluidine red unheated serum test (TRUST) for positive ELISA specimens to determine syphilis infection. A logistic regression model was used to determine factors associated with syphilis infection.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Overall syphilis prevalence was 5.0% (95%CI, 4.5-5.5%). Low-tier FSWs had the highest prevalence (9.7%; 95%CI, 8.3-11.1%), followed by middle-tier (4.3%; 95%CI, 3.6-5.0%, <it>P </it>< 0.001) and high-tier FSWs (2.2%; 95%CI, 1.6-2.9%, <it>P </it>< 0.001). Factors independently associated with syphilis infection included older age, lower education level, geographic location, lower tier of typology, and injection drug use.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This multi-site survey showed a high prevalence of syphilis infection among FSWs and substantial disparities in syphilis prevalence by the tier of FSWs. The difference in syphilis prevalence is substantial between different tiers of FSWs, with the highest rate among low-tier FSWs. Thus, current surveillance and intervention activities, which have low coverage in low-tier FSWs in China, should be further examined.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/12/84SyphilisPrevalenceTypologyFemale sex workerChina |
| spellingShingle | Chen Xiang-Sheng Wang Qian-Qiu Yin Yue-Ping Liang Guo-Jun Jiang Ning Yang Li-Gang Liu Qiao Zhou Yu-Jiao Huan Xi-Ping Wei Wan-Hui Wang Baoxi Prevalence of syphilis infection in different tiers of female sex workers in China: implications for surveillance and interventions BMC Infectious Diseases Syphilis Prevalence Typology Female sex worker China |
| title | Prevalence of syphilis infection in different tiers of female sex workers in China: implications for surveillance and interventions |
| title_full | Prevalence of syphilis infection in different tiers of female sex workers in China: implications for surveillance and interventions |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence of syphilis infection in different tiers of female sex workers in China: implications for surveillance and interventions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence of syphilis infection in different tiers of female sex workers in China: implications for surveillance and interventions |
| title_short | Prevalence of syphilis infection in different tiers of female sex workers in China: implications for surveillance and interventions |
| title_sort | prevalence of syphilis infection in different tiers of female sex workers in china implications for surveillance and interventions |
| topic | Syphilis Prevalence Typology Female sex worker China |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/12/84 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chenxiangsheng prevalenceofsyphilisinfectionindifferenttiersoffemalesexworkersinchinaimplicationsforsurveillanceandinterventions AT wangqianqiu prevalenceofsyphilisinfectionindifferenttiersoffemalesexworkersinchinaimplicationsforsurveillanceandinterventions AT yinyueping prevalenceofsyphilisinfectionindifferenttiersoffemalesexworkersinchinaimplicationsforsurveillanceandinterventions AT liangguojun prevalenceofsyphilisinfectionindifferenttiersoffemalesexworkersinchinaimplicationsforsurveillanceandinterventions AT jiangning prevalenceofsyphilisinfectionindifferenttiersoffemalesexworkersinchinaimplicationsforsurveillanceandinterventions AT yangligang prevalenceofsyphilisinfectionindifferenttiersoffemalesexworkersinchinaimplicationsforsurveillanceandinterventions AT liuqiao prevalenceofsyphilisinfectionindifferenttiersoffemalesexworkersinchinaimplicationsforsurveillanceandinterventions AT zhouyujiao prevalenceofsyphilisinfectionindifferenttiersoffemalesexworkersinchinaimplicationsforsurveillanceandinterventions AT huanxiping prevalenceofsyphilisinfectionindifferenttiersoffemalesexworkersinchinaimplicationsforsurveillanceandinterventions AT weiwanhui prevalenceofsyphilisinfectionindifferenttiersoffemalesexworkersinchinaimplicationsforsurveillanceandinterventions AT wangbaoxi prevalenceofsyphilisinfectionindifferenttiersoffemalesexworkersinchinaimplicationsforsurveillanceandinterventions |