title: Female sex workers in China: vectors of disease?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the extent by which Chinese female sex workers (FSWs) serve as vectors of HIV/AIDS to an otherwise spared general population and to describe the implications of centering efforts solely on this high-risk group.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  By using the example of FSWs in China, we intend to demonstrate the role that structural factors can have on HIV transmission above and beyond individual high-risk behaviors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature review of years 1980-2006.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis of the literature suggests that major determinants of HIV transmission amongst FSWs in China include sociopolitical context, gender, work environment and finally, risky sexual behaviors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chinese FSWs live in a specific sociopolitical context that shapes their capacities to engage in safe-sex practices. Focusing on FSWs as vectors of HIV/AIDS epidemic in China neglects the larger context that endangers all members of society and blames an already vulnerable population.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Santé Internationale, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. catherinepirkle@gmail.com
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pirkle
authors.forename: Riswana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Soundardjee
authors.forename: Artuso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stella
mesh_terms: D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D011477:Sex Work; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*