Abstract
Female sex workers (FSWs) are at heightened risk of HIV infection. This research aims to determine the prevalence of HIV and relevant risk factors and related behavior among FSWs in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, a southeast province of Vietnam. 420 FSWs were interviewed using a structured questionnaire and biological samples tested for HIV. 2.6 % were found to be HIV positive. HIV infection was significantly higher in FSWs who had low income (≤AUD 200 per month), have had anal sex, have had sex with injecting drug users, and had a low level of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge. Improved employment opportunities and income are important to reduce the pressure for young women to engage in sex work for income purposes, but in public health terms, existing HIV treatment, prevention and intervention programs needs better targeting and improvements to reduce the risk of HIV infection.
Resumen
Las trabajadoras sexuales (FSWs acrónimo en inglés) tienen mayor riesgo de infección por el VIH. Esta investigación tiene como objetivo determinar el predominio y factores de riesgo relevantes del VIH y el comportamiento relacionado entre las trabajadoras sexuales en Ba Ria - Vung Tau, una provincia al sureste de Vietnam. 420 trabajadoras sexuales fueron entrevistadas mediante un estructurado cuestionario y muestras biológicas analizadas para el VIH. 2,6 % resultaron dar positivo en VIH. La infección por VIH fue significativamente mayor en las trabajadoras sexuales que tenían bajos ingresos (≤200 AUD por mes), han tenido relaciones sexuales anales, han tenido relaciones sexuales con usuarios de drogas inyectables, y que tenían un nivel bajo de conocimiento sobre VIH/SIDA. La mejora de oportunidades de empleo e ingresos son importantes para reducir la presión de mujeres jóvenes a dedicarse al trabajo sexual con el propósito de recibir ingresos, pero en términos de sanidad pública, los tratamientos existentes, prevención e intervención del VIH deben ser mejor orientados y mejorados para reducir el riesgo de infección por el VIH.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the former Director of the Vietnam Administration for HIV/AIDS Control (VAAC) Professor Thanh Long Nguyen, for his support and assistance. We also thank the Department of Health, the provincial HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Center, the provincial Preventive Medicine Center, and the Health Centers of six districts and two cities in Ba Ria – Vung Tau province for their assistance and collaboration.
Funding
This study was funded by the research grants from the People Committee’s Ba Ria – Vung Tau province, Vietnam.
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Tri Nguyen has received a research grant for his Doctor of Philosophy program. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Ethical Approval
The study was jointly approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of Griffith University (Ref No: PBH/51/13/HREC) and the Department of Health in Ba Ria – Vung Tau province and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.
Informed Consent
Informed consent and information documents were provided to all participants in the survey. The background, purpose, and procedures of the survey were clearly indicated to potential participants as well as details regarding the measures taken by the investigator to ensure confidentiality and privacy of the participants. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
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Tri Nguyen, Donald Edwin Stewart, Chiao Tzu Patricia Lee have contributed equally to the work.
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Nguyen, T., Stewart, D.E., Lee, C.T.P. et al. Prevalence of HIV Infection and Risk Factors Among Female Sex Workers in a Southeast Province of Vietnam. AIDS Behav 21, 2332–2340 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-016-1544-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-016-1544-1