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-secti...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Reproductive Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frph.2021.775375/full |
| _version_ | 1818852715677089792 |
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| author | Toan Ha Stephen L. Schensul Jean J. Schensul Trang Nguyen Nam Nguyen |
| author_facet | Toan Ha Stephen L. Schensul Jean J. Schensul Trang Nguyen Nam Nguyen |
| author_sort | Toan Ha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T07:25:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-298c6f4add7e4a34ba810da00bb51b74 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-3153 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T07:25:20Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Reproductive Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-298c6f4add7e4a34ba810da00bb51b742022-12-21T20:30:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Reproductive Health2673-31532021-12-01310.3389/frph.2021.775375775375Sexual Risk Behaviors, HIV Prevalence and Access to Reproductive Health Services Among Young Women Migrant Workers in the Industrial Zones in VietnamToan Ha0Stephen L. Schensul1Jean J. Schensul2Trang Nguyen3Nam Nguyen4Department of Infectious Diseases and Virology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United StatesDepartment of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, United StatesInstitute for Community Research, Hartford, CT, United StatesInstitute of Social and Medical Studies, Hanoi, VietnamInstitute of Social and Medical Studies, Hanoi, VietnamBackground: 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.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frph.2021.775375/fullsexual risk behaviorHIVwomen migrant workerindustrial zoneVietnam |
| spellingShingle | Toan Ha Stephen L. Schensul Jean J. Schensul Trang Nguyen Nam Nguyen Sexual Risk Behaviors, HIV Prevalence and Access to Reproductive Health Services Among Young Women Migrant Workers in the Industrial Zones in Vietnam Frontiers in Reproductive Health sexual risk behavior HIV women migrant worker industrial zone Vietnam |
| title | Sexual Risk Behaviors, HIV Prevalence and Access to Reproductive Health Services Among Young Women Migrant Workers in the Industrial Zones in Vietnam |
| title_full | Sexual Risk Behaviors, HIV Prevalence and Access to Reproductive Health Services Among Young Women Migrant Workers in the Industrial Zones in Vietnam |
| title_fullStr | Sexual Risk Behaviors, HIV Prevalence and Access to Reproductive Health Services Among Young Women Migrant Workers in the Industrial Zones in Vietnam |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sexual Risk Behaviors, HIV Prevalence and Access to Reproductive Health Services Among Young Women Migrant Workers in the Industrial Zones in Vietnam |
| title_short | Sexual Risk Behaviors, HIV Prevalence and Access to Reproductive Health Services Among Young Women Migrant Workers in the Industrial Zones in Vietnam |
| title_sort | sexual risk behaviors hiv prevalence and access to reproductive health services among young women migrant workers in the industrial zones in vietnam |
| topic | sexual risk behavior HIV women migrant worker industrial zone Vietnam |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frph.2021.775375/full |
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