title: Impact of a community sexually transmitted infection/HIV intervention project on female sex workers in five border provinces of Vietnam.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine changes in the prevalence of sexually transmitted infection (STI)/HIV in female sex workers (FSWs) after a community HIV prevention intervention project in five border provinces of Vietnam.
  
  
  METHODS
  The project focused on providing user-friendly STI services for FSWs using mobile teams operating at multiple sites depending on local client preferences. 911 FSWs were enrolled at baseline and 982 in the exit survey. Study participants were interviewed about sociodemographic characteristics, sexual behaviour, history of STIs and selected features of their husbands or cohabiting partners, and were tested for STIs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence rates of HIV, syphilis, herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) antibodies, gonorrhoea (GC), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), and GC and/or CT among FSWs in the five border provinces in 2004 were 3.6%, 12.9%, 24.9%, 2.9%, 9.1% and 11.3%, respectively. Compared with baseline values, GC and/or CT decreased significantly from 19.9% to 11.3%, GC from 10.7% to 2.9% and CT from 11.9% to 9.1%. HIV decreased from 4.5% to 3.6%, and HSV-2 antibodies from 27.7% to 24.9%. After adjustment for possible confounders, a significant overall decrease in having GC and/or CT (OR = 0.46, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.65; p<0.001) and GC alone (OR = 0.22, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.37; p<0.001) was found, and the overall prevalence of syphilis increased significantly (OR = 1.55, 95% CI 1.11 to 2.17 p = 0.011). A marked increase in syphilis from 1.0% to 14.1% was identified in the Lai Chau province.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Implementation of the project was associated with a reduction in GC and/or CT infections in FSWs, more so with GC than with CT. A notable increase in syphilis in Lai Chau was identified. HIV/STI interventions in FSWs can be implemented by government services and should be intensified and expanded to other provinces.
authors.affiliation: Pasteur Suite, Ealing Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Nguyen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vu Thuong
authors.forename: Khuu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van Nghia
authors.forename: Tran
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Phuc Hau
authors.forename: Nguyen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thanh Long
authors.forename: Cao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thi Bao Van
authors.forename: Bui
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hoang Duc
authors.forename: Luong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thu Tram
authors.forename: Nguyen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Anh Tuan
authors.forename: Nguyen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thi Kim Tien
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Godwin
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fylkesnes
authors.forename: Nigel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: O'Farrell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D011477:Sex Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014744:Vietnam / Q000453:epidemiology