A survey of prevention and control knowledge, attitude, behavior and infection status of hepatitis B among female sex workers in Chaoyang District, Beijing

Objective To conduct a baseline survey of prevention knowledge,attitude,behavior of hepatitis B and hepatitis B virus infection among female sex workers in Chaoyang District,Beijing,better control of hepatitis B transmission in Chaoyang and for further policy making process on hepatitis B control strategies in cities.Methods The female sex workers who had commercial sex within six months large were recruited by combining stratified cluster sampling method and snowball method in entertainment places.Oneon-one questionnaire were carried out to collect data of general demographic characteristics,hepatitis B-related knowledge,attitude and behavior.Hepatitis B antigen and antibody were tested.Results A total of 1300 female sex workers were investigated,mostly aged 20 ～29 years (76.92％,1000/1300),unmarried accounting for 54.23％ (705/1300),middle and high school (secondary) accounting for 80.38％ (832/1300).Awareness rate of hepatitis B sexual transmission was 50.92％ (662/1300),and awareness rate of hepatitis B vaccination and condom use were 68.23％ and 48.31％ (628/1300) respectively.Only 36.54％ (475/1300) had been vaccinated against hepatitis B.HBsAg positive rate was 2.46％ (32/1300).Conclusions Both awareness rates of hepatitis B prevention knowledge and hepatitis B vaccination coverage were low.Female sex workers in Chaoyang District have high risk behavior.We should enhance the level of attention to hepatitis B infection among female sex workers; strengthen publicity and education of hepatitis B prevention and control knowledge so as to improve the hepatitis B vaccination rate. Key words: FSW;  Knowledge;  Attitude;  Behavior;  HBV infection