[Consecutive cross-sectional survey of prevalence of HIV infection/STD and related factors in Vietnamese female sex workers at a China-Vietnam border area, 2014-2015].

Objective

To investigate the prevalence of HIV infection/STD and related factors in Vietnamese female sex workers (FSWs).

Methods

Consecutive cross-sectional surveys were conducted in June 2014, December 2014, May 2015 and November 2015 in Hekou, a county bordering Vietnam in Yunnan province. Convenience sampling were adopted to select 1 058 Vietnamese FSWs aged>16 years. Questionnaire interview were used to collect the information about their demographics, sexual behaviors and drug use. Serum and urine samples were collected for HIV infection/STD detection and drug use test. Trend χ(2) test was applied for HIV infection/STD and drug use trend analysis. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify the related factors.

Results

The consecutive cross sectional surveys indicated that the prevalence of HIV infection in Vietnamese FSWs were 3.20%(7/219), 2.04%(5/245), 1.89%(5/265) and 1.82%(6/329) respectively; the HSV-2 positive rates were 57.08%(125/219), 58.37%(143/245), 38.11%(101/265) and 51.06% (168/329) respectively. In addition, the prevalence of syphilis were 0.91%, 1.51%, 0.75% and 1.22% respectively. HSV-2 infection prevalence showed a downward trend (χ(2)=4.823, P=0.028). By logistic regression analysis, the related factors for HIV infection in Vietnamese FSWs were being amphetamine type stimulants (ATS) positive (OR=10.18, 95%CI: 4.33-23.92) and being HSV-2 positive (OR=2.89, 95%CI: 1.09-7.88); Age (OR=1.88, 95%CI: 1.32-2.61), no-paid sexual partner (OR=1.59, 95%CI: 1.26-2.01) and being ATS positive (OR=2.48, 95%CI: 1.10-5.57) were related factors for HSV-2 infection.

Conclusions

Compared with the results of previous studies, the HIV infection prevalence declined in Vietnamese FSWs, but the HSV-2 infection prevalence was still high. The association between ATS use and HIV infection/STD suggested the necessity of strengthening AIDS intervention in Vietnamese FSWs, including the control of new type drug and sexual transmission.