title: High-risk behavior of HIV/AIDS among females sex workers in Bangladesh: survey in Rajshahi City.
abstract: Female sex workers (FSWs) and their clients are one of the major sources of spread of HIV/AIDS in Bangladesh. The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of unprotected sex among FSWs in Rajshahi City, Bangladesh. A total of 200 FSWs were randomly selected for the survey from February to September 2012. The age range of FSWs was 16-41 years (average age, 24.52 ± 6.26 years), and the majority of these women (84.4%) were married. More than 88% of FSWs reported practicing unprotected sex because of clients' insistence. Further analysis showed a significantly higher rate of protected sex among unmarried FSWs (P < 0.01). Approximately 32% of FSWs did not undergo voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) for HIV, and this factor was significantly associated with the education level (P < 0.01), age (P < 0.01), and economic status (P < 0.05). Furthermore, 89.5% respondents did not ask their new clients about VCT/HIV status, and this factor was associated with the resident area (P < 0.05), age (P < 0.05), and economic status (P < 0.01) of FSWs. Authorities in this country should focus their HIV/AIDS prevention efforts on illiterate FSWs, married FSWs, and FSWs aged below 21 years or above 30 years.
authors.affiliation: Population Services and Training Center.
authors.forename: Sheikh Moin
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Uddin
authors.forename: Md Golam
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Md Ashraful
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.forename: Md Nurul
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.forename: Saw
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aik
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kamarul
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D012309:Risk-Taking; D011477:Sex Work; D060386:Sex Workers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult