Analysis of status of AIDS related knowledge,attitude and risk behavior among 519 female sex workers in Chongqing

Objective To understand the status of AIDS related knowledge,risk behavior and STDHIV infection among female sex workers(FSWs) and provide evidence for implementing behavioral intervention and health education targeting to this population group.Methods FSWs' sampled conveniently were interviewed by face-to-face approach and samples were taken for STDHIV after informed consent.All data were entered with Epidata 3.02 software and analyzed with SPSS 12.0 software.Results A total of 519 FSWs were surveyed.Their average age was 23.5±6.0 years.This study reflected that FSW had poor recognition of the transmission routes and prevention methods about AIDS.Major routes of acquiring information about AIDS were TV,broadcast and internet.The average age engaged in commercial sex trade was 20.1±2.8 years.The rate of condom use with their clients during sex was low.Only 12.5% of them used condom consistently during their sex with cleints.The main reason for not using condoms was the fact that clients refused it.The prevalence of STDs among FSWs was 18.3 percent.The cases of genital warts,chlamydia,syphilis,gonorrhoea and HIV were 2,75,11,16 and 2 respectively and their respective prevalence was 0.4%,14.5%,2.1%,3.1% and 0.4% Conclusion The factors including poor knowledge about AIDS,multiple sex partners,low rate of condom use and high prevalence of STD will accelerate AIDS epidemic and spreading among female sex workers.It is urgent to conduct health education and behavioral intervention targeting to them.