title: Associations between social support and condom use among commercial sex workers in China: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the association between social support and AIDS high-risk behaviors in commercial sex workers (CSWs) in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was performed based on a convenience sample. Data were collected through questionnaire interviews including information about social demographic characteristics, the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) and AIDS knowledge. Multiple logistic regression was performed to evaluate the association between social support and AIDS high-risk behaviors, specifically condom use during commercial sex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 581 commercial sex workers from 4 counties in East China participated in the study. The majority of the participants were 15 to 30 years old (79.7%). Sources of individual and family support were mainly provided by their parents (50.3%), relatives and friends (46.3%), spouses (18.4%), respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that marital status, hobbies, smoking habit, individual monthly income and family monthly income were all significantly correlated with current levels of social support being received (P = 0.04, P = 0.00, P = 0.01, P = 0.01, P = 0.01, respectively). Furthermore, Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that after adjusting for confounding factors, high levels of social support were significantly correlated with increased condom use at the last sexual encounter (P = 0.02, OR = 1.86, 95%CI: 1.10-3.16); and consistently in the past month with clients (P = 0.03, OR = 2.10, 95%CI: 1.09-4.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CSWs with high levels of social support are more likely to use condoms during commercial sex. This suggests that increasing social support can potentially reduce AIDS-related high-risk behaviors and accordingly play an important role in AIDS prevention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; School of Health Service Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
authors.forename: Ren
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Health Service Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: School of Health Service Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: School of Health Service Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
authors.forename: Liqin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: School of Health Service Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; School of Health Service Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D060386:Sex Workers / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult