title: Demographic and behavioral correlates of HIV/STI among Vietnamese female sex workers in southwest China.
abstract: Previous literature has suggested high rates of HIV/STIs among Chinese FSWs. However, limited data were available regarding HIV-related risks among Vietnamese FSWs - a rapidly increasing, vulnerable population in southwest China. The current study examined the demographic and behavioral factors associated with the infection rates of HIV, syphilis, and Hepatitis C (HCV) among Vietnamese FSWs in Guangxi, China. We conducted a secondary data analysis of a cumulative sample of 1026 Vietnamese FSWs (aged 14-66) recruited over five years (2010-2014) from 35 National Sentinel Surveillance sites in Guangxi. Analyses included Fisher's exact chi-square test, t-test, and binary logistic regression. The overall prevalence of HIV, syphilis, and HCV infections among the cross-border women were 3.2%, 6.9%, and 2.6%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that greater lengths of sex work and low paying work venues were significant risk factors for HIV infection; for syphilis infection, older age, drug use experience, and forgoing condom use were significant risk factors; for HCV infection, drug use experience was the only significant risk factor. Our findings suggest that elevated HIV-related risks among the Vietnamese FSWs are closely related to their financial disadvantages and that drug use is a prominent risk factor for cross-border women in the sex trade. Furthermore, culturally tailored and linguistically accessible HIV prevention and intervention initiatives that target cross-border FSWs, with a close international collaboration between China and Vietnam, are urgently needed.
authors.affiliation: a Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina , Columbia , SC , USA.
authors.forename: Yeon Jung
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: a Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina , Columbia , SC , USA.
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: b Department of Psychology , Virginia Commonwealth University , Richmond , VA , USA.
authors.forename: Cheuk Chi
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.affiliation: c Guangxi CDC, HIV&STD Prevention Center , Nanning , Guangxi , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yuejiao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: c Guangxi CDC, HIV&STD Prevention Center , Nanning , Guangxi , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: c Guangxi CDC, HIV&STD Prevention Center , Nanning , Guangxi , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhiyong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D011477:Sex Work / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D060386:Sex Workers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014744:Vietnam / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: China; HCV; HIV; Vietnamese female sex workers (FSWs); syphilis