The Impact of Healthcare Access on Knowledge and Willingness for HIV Testing in Chinese Female Entertainment Workers

Abstract

Chinese female entertainment workers are at high risk for HIV. We assessed the impact of healthcare access on HIV knowledge, condom use, and their willingness to receive HIV testing. We surveyed 257 entertainment workers in a cross-sectional study. Demographic, knowledge, and behavioral risk factors were examined. Of 257 women, 107 (42.1%) reported inconsistent condom use. Only 9% had prior HIV testing. Their HIV knowledge was generally poor. Having access to healthcare, being able to obtain condoms, and managers providing health information were associated with consistent condom use (all P < 0.01). Having access to healthcare was related to previous HIV testing (P < 0.01). Our study showed that having a doctor and access to healthcare had positive effects on HIV knowledge and likelihood of condom use and previous HIV testing. Chinese medical providers can play a significant role in encouraging HIV testing and outreach in migrant women employed at entertainment venues.

Sexual Health Promotion Intervention for Male Sex Workers in Vietnam Increases Knowledge of STI/HIV Transmission Risk

“…Studies in similar low-and middle-income countries and populations have shown that interventions to improve STI/HIV transmission knowledge contribute to increased condom use and increased use of health services, outcomes that have independently confer a protective influence [19,20]. With this as background, in early 2014 we initiated a Sexual Health Promotion (SHP) Intervention for MSW in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam [21].…”

The Mechanism of Theory-based HIV Behavioral Intervention on Condom Use among Rural-to-urban Migrants in China: The Mediating Roles of HIV Knowledge and Condom Use Self-efficacy

“…The issue of sexual risk among migrants becomes even more significant with the changes in the HIV epidemic in China. Currently, the prevalence of HIV infection has grown steadily in China with sexual intercourse being the primary transmission mode of HIV (Xu et al, 2015;Zhang et al, 2017). It is estimated that nearly 90% of new HIV cases in China are infected through sexual transmission (Zhang et al, 2017).…”

“…Prior research suggests that high levels of HIV knowledge are necessary, although not sufficient, for reducing sexual risk and preventing HIV transmission (DiMatteo, 1991;Fisher & Fisher, 1992;Sio et al, 2015). Fisher and Fisher (1992) have suggested that AIDS-risk-reduction information (i.e., HIV knowledge), motivation, and behavioral skills were three fundamental determinants for AIDS-risk reduction.…”

“…Both AIDS-risk-reduction information and motivation can affect AIDS-risk-reduction behavioral change through AIDS-risk-reduction skills (Fisher & Fisher, 1992). Low levels of HIV knowledge are associated with various kinds of risk behaviors, such as unprotected sex, multiple sexual partners, and low rates of HIV testing (Kong, 2008;Sio et al, 2015;Wu et al, 2016). Wu and colleagues found that migrant men who have sex with men (MSM) who had lower levels of HIV knowledge than local MSM reported higher rates of unprotected anal intercourse and having multiple homosexual partners (Wu et al, 2016).…”

“…Wu and colleagues found that migrant men who have sex with men (MSM) who had lower levels of HIV knowledge than local MSM reported higher rates of unprotected anal intercourse and having multiple homosexual partners (Wu et al, 2016). A previous study found that Chinese female entertainment workers, many of whom were also migrants, with lower levels of HIV knowledge reported higher rates of inconsistent condom use (Sio et al, 2015). HIV knowledge may be an especially enabling factor that can promote protected sex and other HIV preventive behaviors among rural-to-urban migrants given their low education and lack of knowledge regarding the HIV transmission and prevention.…”