HIV–Related Risk Behaviors among Female Sex Workers in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Abstract

This study quantitatively and qualitatively described HIV risk behaviors among Vietnamese female sex workers (FSWs) who work at three distinct venues in Ho Chi Minh City: street, massage parlors, and bars/clubs. Although 35% of the participants had never been tested for HIV, 18% of street and 7% of bar/club FSWs reported being positive. Almost all massage parlor FSWs had never used a condom for oral sex. Inconsistent condom use for vaginal sex with customers was more prevalent among bar/club FSWs (85%) than massage parlor (72%) and street FSWs (68%). Many participants reported difficulties in negotiating condom use with customers because of economic pressure, maintaining relationships, and lack of bargaining power. Bar/club FSWs revealed a difficult situation where drinking is part of their work. Thirty percent of street FSWs had injected drugs and reported addiction to heroin in relation to their helpless condition as FSWs. Street FSWs had the lowest levels of self-esteem and norms toward practicing safe sex and the highest levels of economic pressure. This study recommends future HIV prevention programs for FSWs in Vietnam that target their specific risk behaviors and work environments.

Sex Work and Risky Sexual Behaviors among Foreign Entertainment Workers in Urban Singapore: Findings from Mystery Client Survey

“…30 It was however higher among Vietnamese entertainment workers in our study (52 %) compared to their counterparts (15 %) back home. 4 The latter findings could be due to differences in survey methodology and sociodemographic characteristics of the clients. This study has some limitations.…”

“…3 The wide income disparities across the region and forces of poverty have led to an influx of women from poorer countries to work in entertainment establishments in wealthier countries. Entertainment establishments are often associated with sex work, [3][4][5][6] where women employed as beer promoters, exotic dancers, or singers often sell sex to men patronizing such places to supplement their income. In addition, research has shown that immigrant sex workers were more likely to work in entertainment establishments such as bars and cabarets rather than from the streets because of their preference for an environment with more anonymity and less exposure to immigrant officials.…”

“…A recent study in Vietnam found that female bar and karaoke workers engaging in sex work reported lower condom use with customers than massage parlor and street-based sex workers. 4 Studies on STI risk-related behaviors of Asian FSWs based in entertainment establishments have been conducted mostly in their own countries. [12][13][14][15][16][17][18] Some studies have been conducted on Asian FSWs who worked abroad in Western countries, but these were conducted mostly in massage parlours 19 or brothels.…”

The Relationship Between Alcohol Consumption and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection and Risk Behaviour: A Systematic Literature Review of High-Risk Groups, with a Focus on South Africa

“…Sex with a customer is often accompanied by alcohol consumption, as shown by studies in Afghanistan (Todd et al, 2010), China (Rogers et al, 2002;Wang et al, 2010), India (Bowen et al, 2010;Go et al, 2010;Samet et al, 2010;Verma et al, 2010), Kenya (Chersich et al, 2007), Mongolia (Witte et al, 2010), the Philippines (Chiao et al, 2006;Morisky et al, 2010), Scotland (Thomas et al, 1990), South Africa (Wechsberg et al, 2005;Wechsberg et al, 2009), Tanzania Fisher et al, 2010), the United States (Nemoto et al, 2003), and Vietnam (Nemoto et al, 2008). Alcohol is also consumed by male clients of FSWs in India (Madhivanan et al, 2005;Rodríguez et al, 2010;Samet et al, 2010;Schensul et al, 2010;Verma et al, 2010), Scotland (Morgan Thomas et al, 1990), Sri Lanka (Dissabandara et al, 2009), Thailand (Havanon et al, 1993), and Zimbabwe (Fritz et al, 2002).…”

“…Alcohol is also consumed by male clients of FSWs in India (Madhivanan et al, 2005;Rodríguez et al, 2010;Samet et al, 2010;Schensul et al, 2010;Verma et al, 2010), Scotland (Morgan Thomas et al, 1990), Sri Lanka (Dissabandara et al, 2009), Thailand (Havanon et al, 1993), and Zimbabwe (Fritz et al, 2002). In addition, FSWs often consume alcohol together with their clients, as observed in massage parlours and bars in Vietnam (Nemoto et al, 2008), the Philippines (Chiao et al, 2006), the United States (Nemoto et al, 2003), China (Wang et al, 2010), India (Rodríguez et al, 2010) and Tanzania ). An Indian study found that alcohol consumption for both FSWs and their male partners are above the national average for their respective genders (Samet et al, 2010).…”