High prevalence of syphilis among street-based female sex workers in Nanchang, China
Background: Female sex workers (FSWs) play a critical role in the heterosexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in China. Several studies reported that street-based FSWs have higher risk behaviors than establishment-based FSWs. Therefore, stre...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2014-01-01
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| Series: | Indian Dermatology Online Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.idoj.in/article.asp?issn=2229-5178;year=2014;volume=5;issue=4;spage=449;epage=455;aulast=Tao |
| _version_ | 1818193870378237952 |
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| author | Xiao Hua Tao Tao Jiang Dan Shao Wei Xue Fa Shun Ye Ming Wang Mei Hua He |
| author_facet | Xiao Hua Tao Tao Jiang Dan Shao Wei Xue Fa Shun Ye Ming Wang Mei Hua He |
| author_sort | Xiao Hua Tao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Female sex workers (FSWs) play a critical role in the heterosexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in China. Several studies reported that street-based FSWs have higher risk behaviors than establishment-based FSWs. Therefore, street-based FSWs should be specifically targeted for HIV and STIs intervention programs. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the prevalence rates and risk factors of HIV and syphilis among FSWs in Nanchang, China. Materials and Methods: Using convenience sampling methods, 361 street-based FSWs were recruited from August 2011 to February 2012. All participants completed an anonymous questionnaire on socioeconomic and sex behavioral information and were tested for HIV and syphilis. Risk for HIV and syphilis infection was assessed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: No HIV infections were found. The prevalence rate of syphilis was 43.5%. Nearly 46.1% of street-based FSWs reported having education for no more than 6 years. Having reproductive tract infections at current visit, duration of sex work more than 5 years, indulgence in unprotected sex trade in the last time, unprotected sex trade in the last month, and unprotected sex with boyfriend or spouse in the last month were reported by 35.2%, 43.5%, 33.8%, 60.4%, and 93.1% street-based FSWs, respectively. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, having reproductive tract infections at current visit [odds ratio (OR), 12.10; 95% confidence interval (CI), 6.01-24.37], duration of sex work more than five years (OR, 4.26; 95% CI, 2.40-7.54), and unprotected sex trade in the last month (OR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.06-3.22) were independently associated with syphilis infection. Conclusion: The prevalence rate of syphilis among street-based FSWs is very high. Most street-based FSWs in our survey had low education, long experience of commercial sex, and high rate of inconsistent condom use. Comprehensive interventions targeting this high-risk group, especially scaling up screening and ensuring consistent use of condoms during sex are needed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T00:53:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7efbd71b3e65496e9fff9e550b2378f1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2229-5178 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T00:53:16Z |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Indian Dermatology Online Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-7efbd71b3e65496e9fff9e550b2378f12022-12-22T00:43:57ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Dermatology Online Journal2229-51782014-01-015444945510.4103/2229-5178.142491High prevalence of syphilis among street-based female sex workers in Nanchang, ChinaXiao Hua TaoTao JiangDan ShaoWei XueFa Shun YeMing WangMei Hua HeBackground: Female sex workers (FSWs) play a critical role in the heterosexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in China. Several studies reported that street-based FSWs have higher risk behaviors than establishment-based FSWs. Therefore, street-based FSWs should be specifically targeted for HIV and STIs intervention programs. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the prevalence rates and risk factors of HIV and syphilis among FSWs in Nanchang, China. Materials and Methods: Using convenience sampling methods, 361 street-based FSWs were recruited from August 2011 to February 2012. All participants completed an anonymous questionnaire on socioeconomic and sex behavioral information and were tested for HIV and syphilis. Risk for HIV and syphilis infection was assessed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: No HIV infections were found. The prevalence rate of syphilis was 43.5%. Nearly 46.1% of street-based FSWs reported having education for no more than 6 years. Having reproductive tract infections at current visit, duration of sex work more than 5 years, indulgence in unprotected sex trade in the last time, unprotected sex trade in the last month, and unprotected sex with boyfriend or spouse in the last month were reported by 35.2%, 43.5%, 33.8%, 60.4%, and 93.1% street-based FSWs, respectively. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, having reproductive tract infections at current visit [odds ratio (OR), 12.10; 95% confidence interval (CI), 6.01-24.37], duration of sex work more than five years (OR, 4.26; 95% CI, 2.40-7.54), and unprotected sex trade in the last month (OR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.06-3.22) were independently associated with syphilis infection. Conclusion: The prevalence rate of syphilis among street-based FSWs is very high. Most street-based FSWs in our survey had low education, long experience of commercial sex, and high rate of inconsistent condom use. Comprehensive interventions targeting this high-risk group, especially scaling up screening and ensuring consistent use of condoms during sex are needed.http://www.idoj.in/article.asp?issn=2229-5178;year=2014;volume=5;issue=4;spage=449;epage=455;aulast=TaoEpidemiologyfemale sex workerhuman immunodeficiency virusprevalencerisk factorsyphilis |
| spellingShingle | Xiao Hua Tao Tao Jiang Dan Shao Wei Xue Fa Shun Ye Ming Wang Mei Hua He High prevalence of syphilis among street-based female sex workers in Nanchang, China Indian Dermatology Online Journal Epidemiology female sex worker human immunodeficiency virus prevalence risk factor syphilis |
| title | High prevalence of syphilis among street-based female sex workers in Nanchang, China |
| title_full | High prevalence of syphilis among street-based female sex workers in Nanchang, China |
| title_fullStr | High prevalence of syphilis among street-based female sex workers in Nanchang, China |
| title_full_unstemmed | High prevalence of syphilis among street-based female sex workers in Nanchang, China |
| title_short | High prevalence of syphilis among street-based female sex workers in Nanchang, China |
| title_sort | high prevalence of syphilis among street based female sex workers in nanchang china |
| topic | Epidemiology female sex worker human immunodeficiency virus prevalence risk factor syphilis |
| url | http://www.idoj.in/article.asp?issn=2229-5178;year=2014;volume=5;issue=4;spage=449;epage=455;aulast=Tao |
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