Knowledge and behavior about AIDS/STD among female sex workers

Objective To understand the status of knowledge and behavior about AIDS/STD among female sex workers in Guangzhou and to provide scientific basis for further health education and behavioral intervention.Methods Convenience sampling method was used for an anonymous questionnaire survey among female sex workers in 20 entertainment establishments in five districts of Guangzhou from May 2008 to May 2009.All data were analyzed with software SPSS13.0.Results A total of 303 valid questionnaires were collected.The average age of the participants was 24.39±4.66 years old(17-34 years).60.72% of them were single;75.91% had education below junior high school;92.08% were migrants.Among the participants,the awareness rate of AIDS was 58.00% and that of STD was 44.22%.The rate of condom use in latest commercial sex was 88.45%(268/303).73.60%(223/303) of the female sex workers used condom every time when having sexual activity with client within recent six month and 16.83%(51/303)reported drug abuse.Conclusion The awareness rate of AIDS related knowledge is not high and condom use rate is very low and there are drug users in female sex workers in Guangzhou.