Abstract：Objective To investigate the HIV/AIDS-related knowledge awareness, sex behavior and the epidemic trend of HIV among female sex workers (FSWs) in Dazhu County, Sichuan Province, and to provide a scientific basis for formulating reasonable intervention measures and effective prevention and control strategies. Methods Serial questionnaire surveys were conducted annually among FSWs in Dazhu County from 2013 to 2016, and blood samples were collected for detection of HIV, syphilis and HCV antibodies. The awareness rate of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, the characteristics of HIV/AIDS-related behavior and the status of HIV infection among FSWs were descriptively analyzed. Results A total of 1,422 FSWs were monitored and investigated from 2013 to 2016. The awareness rate of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge in the FSWs was 97.1%, and a statistically significant difference was found in the awareness rate during 2013-2016 (χ2=36.22, P<0.01). The rate of condom use in the last commercial sex was 98.7%, and the rate of constant condom use in commercial sex in recent one month was 92.7%. The proportion of beneficiaries in any kind of correlative prevention and intervention service in recent one year was 94.6%. The HIV-positive detection rate of the FSWs was 1.5%, of which the positive detection rates of HIV antibody in high-, middle- and low-class FSWs were 0%, 0.7% and 7.3% respectively, with statistically significant differences (χ2=53.97, P<0.01). Conclusions Although the awareness rate of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and the proportion of receiving prevention and intervention service in the FSWs in Dazhu County, Sichuan Province are high, the HIV-positive rates of middle- and low-class FSWs are still high. Therefore, it is necessary to enhance the targeted intervention measures and enlarge their coverage so as to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS in Dazhu County.
2018, Vol. 25 
