[Incidence rates of human immunodeficiency virus and syphilis as well as the rate of retention in a 6-month follow-up study of female sex workers in areas with heavy drug use in Xichang of Sichuan province, China].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis incidence rates as well as the retention rate in a cohort with 6-month follow-up study among female sex workers (FSWs).


METHODS
From December, 2004, to January, 2005, a community-based baseline survey was conducted to recruit 343 FSWs for a prospective cohort study in Xichang county of Sichuan province, China. Follow-up visits were conducted at 6 months to analyze risk factors associated with cohort retention for subjects' baseline sociodemographic and sexual behavioral characteristics. Blood specimens were also collected to test antibodies against HIV and syphilis.


RESULTS
During the 6-month follow-up period, HIV and syphilis incidence appeared to be 1.00 per 100 person-years and 6.23 per 100 person-years, respectively. The rate of retention in the cohort was 53.6% (184/343). Results from multivariate logistic regression model showed that factors were significantly associated with cohort retention including people with minority ethnic background (OR = 0.36; 95% CI: 0.18-0.74), people having participated in AIDS prevention program (OR = 1.83; 95% CI: 1.17-2.86) or being clients in the last 6 months > or = 50 (OR = 1.75; 95% CI: 1.11-2.77) and having changed living/working place (OR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.33-0.94).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study showed that the syphilis incidence and unprotected sex behavior were high among local FSWs. People belonged to Han nationality, having participated in AIDS prevention program and having a steady living/working place were associated with cohort retention at 6-month follow-up study among FSWs, respectively.
Tian
Li-Guang
LG
National Center for AIDS/ STD Control and Prevention, State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing 100050, China.
Ma
Ze-En
ZE
Ruan
Yu-Hua
YH
Cao
Xiao-Yun
XY
Huang
Jian-Ping
JP
Wang
De-Ren
DR
Zhu
Guo-Ping
GP
Yao
Hui-Ming
HM
Han
Li
L
Hao
Chun
C
Yin
Lu
L
Liang
Shu
S
Qin
Guang-Ming
GM
Chen
Kang-Lin
KL
Wang
Jun
J
Wang
Ning
N
Shao
Yi-Ming
YM
D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011477:Sex Work; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology*