Correlates of HIV infection among street-based and venue-based sex workers in Vietnam

Abstract

Commercial sex work is one of the driving forces of the HIV epidemic across the world. In Vietnam, although female sex workers (FSWs) carry a disproportionate burden of HIV, little is known about the risk profile and associated factors for HIV infection among this population. There is a need for large-scale research to obtain reliable and representative estimates of the measures of association. This study involved secondary data analysis of the 'HIV/STI Integrated Biological and Behavioral Surveillance' study in Vietnam in 2009-2010 to examine the correlates of HIV among FSWs. Data collected from 5298 FSWs, including 2530 street-based sex workers and 2768 venue-based sex workers from 10 provinces in Vietnam, were analyzed using descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. HIV prevalence among the overall FSW population was 8.6% (n = 453). However, when stratified by FSW subpopulations, HIV prevalence was 10.6% (n = 267) for street-based sex workers and 6.7% (n = 186) for venue-based sex workers. Factors independently associated with HIV infection in the multivariate analysis, regardless of sex work types, were injecting drug use, high self-perceived HIV risk, and age ≥ 25 years. Additional factors independently associated with HIV risk within each FSW subpopulation included having ever been married among street-based sex workers and inconsistent condom use with clients and having sex partners who injected drugs among venue-based sex workers. Apart from strategies addressing modifiable risk behaviours among all FSWs, targeted strategies to address specific risk behaviours within each FSW subpopulation should be adopted.

HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among female sex workers in Moscow (Russia): prevalence and associated risk factors

“…These elements suggest that OFSW have more at-risk sexual practices than IFSW. Several studies showed a higher HIV/STI prevalence among street-based FSW 28–31…”

Health Inequality between Migrant and Non-Migrant Workers in an Industrial Zone of Vietnam

“…However, Quynh et al found that most of them rented accommodation with very poor quality and sanitation standards [24]. The extant literature on the relationship between health and internal labor migration in Vietnam has primarily examined a number of prevalent health risks, such as HIV/AIDS vulnerability and transmission [25,26,27], reproductive tract infection among female migrants [28,29], excessive alcohol consumption among male street laborers [30], sexual practices and sexually transmissible infections among migrant sex workers [31,32], or malaria incidence in the at-risk migrant population [33]. Given continuing migration and uneven economic integration and growth, ensuring the detection of health issues and timely provision of health services in migrant workers is crucial to national health equity [34].…”

Sexualized Drug Use Among Female Sex Workers From Eight Cities in China: a Cross-sectional Study

“…This study of 1287 FSW from eight Chinese cities reveals that a history of sexualized drug use identi ed FSW who had greater associations with negative sexual and reproductive health outcomes, even after accounting for injecting drug use (a known risk factor for negative health outcomes in FSW). Whilst much has been published about the associations between injecting drug use and negative sexual and reproductive health outcomes, 21,[23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] our study contribute to the limited literature on sexualized drug use among FSW, and provides evidence to support routinely asking about sexualized drug use, which may also help to more e ciently allocating resources to subpopulations of FSW with the greatest health needs.…”

“…The self-report of sexualized drug use among FSW compounded their risks for sexual health outcomes, compared to their non-drug using peers. It is already established that injecting drug use among FSW is associated with increased risks of STIs, 21,[23][24][25][26][27] HIV, 21,26,28 higher unintended pregnancy rates, 21 reproductive morbidity, 29 less consistent condom use, 21,30,31 violence, 29,32,33 and mental health problems. 33 We add to this literature by demonstrating a history of sexualized drug use is also associated with negative sexual and reproductive health outcomes.…”