AIDS-Related Discrimination and its Effects on Prevention Service Adherence among Female Entertainment Workers

Abstract

[Objective] To investigate AIDS-related discrimination among female entertainment workers (FEWs) and its effect on prevention service adherence. [Methods] A total of 126 FEWs were randomly selected from Juyuan New Area as the study subjects, interviewed with an unified questionnaire for socio-demographic, behavioral, cognition and AIDS-related discrimination status, and tested for HIV, HSV-2, syphilis, gonorrhea and Chlamydia trachomatis with blood and urine samples. [Results] Among the 126 FEWs investigated, 31.75% came from large KTVs, 62.70% from small hair salons, 2.38% from small foot care stores, and 3.17% from small bathrooms. None was HIV-positive and 22.22% was infected with sexually transmitted diseases (STD). The mean score of AIDS-related discrimination was 4.19 plus or minus 1.61. AIDS-related discrimination had a statistical relationship with the level of AIDS knowledge ( chi super(2)=5.184, P=0.023). Only 23.81% had HIV tests ever, and "don't know where to go to get a test" and "chance of having AIDS is low" were the main reasons for not to get a test. Those having STD-related symptoms in the past one month accounted for 61.90%, and 70.51% saw a doctor. Those who went for routine STD check-ups in the past one year taken 50.00%, and the mean of STD checkups were 1.79 plus or minus 0.99. In their last sexual encounter, 96.83% used condoms when having sex with clients, but 45.74% did so when with regular sexual partners. The proportion of having a miscarriage ever was 11.11%, and 65.87% for an abortion ever. The times of miscarriage and abortion varied from 1 to 7, with the median of 1. Those using contraceptives accounted for 97.62%, among which 66.67% chose condoms. chi super(2) test showed AIDS-related discrimination had a statistical relationship with HIV test ( chi super(2)=5.936, P=0.015) and sexually transmitted infection rate ( chi super(2)=4.829, P=0.028). [Conclusion] AIDS-related discrimination is common among FEWs. HIV prevention service adherence is far from being satisfactory, and AIDS-related discrimination has an effect on some HIV prevention service adherence.