Vaginal douching, condom use, and sexually transmitted infections among Chinese female sex workers.
OBJECTIVE
Vaginal douching has been hypothesized to increase a woman's risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. However, data on the prevalence of this practice and its association with condom use and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are limited.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey among 454 female sex workers (FSWs) in a Chinese county.


RESULTS
Vaginal douching was reported by 64.7% of the women. The prevalence of self-reported history of STI and that of current STI was 19.4% and 41.5%, respectively. Fifteen percent of the women reported consistent use of condoms with their clients and 8.4% with their regular partners. Vaginal douching was significantly associated with decreased use of condoms (with clients: OR = 0.31; with regular partner(s): OR = 0.22) and increased rate of self-reported STI history (OR = 1.95). However, there was no direct relation between douching and current STI. Over one third of the women believed that douching can prevent STI/HIV.


CONCLUSIONS
Vaginal douching exposes FSWs to a high risk of STI/HIV. Medical professional and public health workers should correct women's misconception about the effectiveness of douching and discourage women from douching through educational activities.
Wang
Bo
B
The Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics Prevention Research Center, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. bwang@med.wayne.edu
Li
Xiaoming
X
Stanton
Bonita
B
Yang
Hongmei
H
Fang
Xiaoyi
X
Zhao
Ran
R
Dong
Baiqing
B
Zhou
Yuejiao
Y
Liu
Wei
W
Liang
Shaoling
S
D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011477:Sex Work; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D044364:Vaginal Douching