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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Determinants of the low uptake of HIV-related intervention services by female sex workers in Shenzhen, China: an observational study (2009–2012)

Rui Cai A B , Jingguang Tan B C , Lin Chen B , Caspar W. N. Looman A , Jan Hendrik Richardus A and Sake J. de Vlas A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

B Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Longyuan Road 8, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, China.

C Corresponding author. Email: tanjg@szcdc.net

Sexual Health 12(3) 257-262 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH14189
Submitted: 29 September 2014  Accepted: 25 February 2015   Published: 4 May 2015

Abstract

Background: Female sex workers (FSWs) are highly vulnerable to HIV but make little use of HIV-related intervention services provided by the Chinese government. Determinants of the low uptake of HIV services by FSWs in Shenzhen, Guangdong province were investigated. Methods: FSWs were recruited by venue-based sampling; 1656 FSWs were interviewed about sociodemographics, behaviours and uptake of HIV-related intervention services. Determinants of no uptake of HIV testing, condom promotion, and peer education were determined through logistic regression. The association between uptake of HIV-related services, condom use and HIV-related knowledge was also assessed. Results: The overall uptake of HIV testing, condom promotion, and peer education by FSWs was 21.5%, 47.8% and 28.0%, respectively. Young age and shorter duration of working in Shenzhen were statistically significantly correlated with no uptake of all three interventions. Uptake of these services was positively associated with consistent condom use and good HIV-related knowledge. Conclusions: The uptake of HIV-related intervention services by FSWs is low in Shenzhen. As their uptake is positively associated with condom use and HIV-related knowledge, it is necessary to intensify promotion of these, focusing on young and recently started FSWs.


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