Factors associated with HIV testing history and HIV-test result follow-up among female sex workers in two cities in Yunnan, China.
BACKGROUND
The majority of people living with HIV/AIDS in China are unaware of their serostatus, and increasing the utilization of HIV testing may help to control the epidemic.


METHODS
This longitudinal study was conducted among female sex workers (FSWs) in 2 cities in Yunnan Province, China. Participants were surveyed in face-to-face interviews and tested for HIV and STDs. Factors associated with HIV-testing history and HIV-test follow-up were analyzed.


RESULTS
Of the 1642 study participants, 291 (17.7%) had been previously tested and 868 (52.9%) returned for post-test follow-up. Factors associated with having a previous HIV test included attending the Kaiyuan study (aOR: 4.9, 95% CI: 2.3-10.1), ≥ 9 years of schooling (aOR: 10.9, 95% CI: 2.6-45.5), <5 clients in the recent week (aOR: 1.7, 95% CI: 1.2-2.3), having a regular sexual partner (aOR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.4-2.5), illegal drug use history (aOR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.5-3.1), pelvic pain in the past 12 months (aOR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1-3.6), HIV-seropositivity (aOR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.2-2.8), and high perception of HIV risk (aOR: 1.5, 95% CI: 1.1-2.2). FSWs who had ≥ 9 years of schooling (aOR: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.1-1.9), had <5 clients in the recent week (aOR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.1-1.6), or were from another province (aOR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.4-2.5) or city (aOR: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.1-1.8) were more likely to follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
The low HIV-testing history and follow-up rates found in this is study is a significant public health problem as many high-risk individuals are not aware of their serostatus. Immediate action needs to be taken to increase the utilization of HIV testing services and notify people of their HIV status.
Xu
Junjie
J
National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Brown
Katherine
K
Ding
Guowei
G
Wang
Haibo
H
Zhang
Guolei
G
Reilly
Kathleen
K
Li
Qinghua
Q
Wang
Guixiang
G
Wang
Ning
N
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D011477:Sex Work; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult