Abstract：Objective To investigate the situation of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) / acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) infections, the features of high-risk behavior and risk factors among Vietnamese cross-border female sex workers, and to provide a basis for formulating targeted prevention and control measures. Methods The methods of incentivized snowball sampling and respondent driven sampling were used in this study. A face-to-face questionnaire survey of Vietnamese cross-border female sex workers was conducted by the trained bilingual outreach workers, and the contents of investigation included demographic characteristics, HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, high-risk behavior and condom use. 3-5 ml venous blood was collected for testing the antibodies against HIV and syphilis. SPSS 19.0 software was employed to analyze the infection rates of HIV and syphilis as well as the possible factors influencing commercial sex transaction without condom use among Vietnamese cross-border female sex workers. Results No HIV antibody positive case was detected among 92 respondents surveyed, but one case with positive syphilis antibody was detected, with the positive rate being 1.09%. All the female sex workers had multinational commercial sexual partners, and 60.87% of them received ≥3 male clients daily. The proportions of condom use in the last episode and the last month of commercial sex were 80.44% and 68.48% respectively. 54.35% of the female sex workers had sexual intercourse with fixed sex partners (old clients) within the last month, but did not use condoms in the last episode of commercial sex and during each sexual intercourse in the last month. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that high- and intermediate-grade service places (OR=15.021, 95%CI:2.82-80.023) was a protective factor for condom use, while the age of first sex service ≥ 30 years (OR=0.165, 95%CI:0.042-0.651) and daily receiving≥3 male clients (OR=0.129, 95%CI:0.023-0.737) were the main risk factors for condom use. Conclusions It is prevailing for Vietnamese cross-border female sex workers to have multinational commercial sex partners, and the frequency of condom use in the female sex workers from low-grade service places, receiving more male clients within one day and from older-age group is low. Targeted comprehensive intervention should be conducted based on full consideration of different grades of high-risk entertainment places and characteristics of high-risk sexual behavior.
2018, Vol. 25 
