Many sex workers in Shanghai China unaware of HIV/AIDS as a disease
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A new study has revealed many sex workers in Shanghai, China had no knowledge of HIV/AIDS and engaged in high risk sexual activities.
The study led by Cai Y and colleagues of Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine and other organizations found that overall, only 60.8 percent of the sex workers participating in the survey correctly answered questions about HIV/AIDS.
As China's economy is booming, the Asian giant is also facing a rapid increase in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
The researchers believed that female sex workers have contributed to the growing epidemic of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases in China.
Cai and colleagues enlisted 423 female sex workers from five districts of Shanghai including three suburbs and two downtown areas for the survey.
Of the participants, 33.4 percent reported they had ever engaged in sexual activities with their clients without using condoms and 51.2 percent reported condom slippage or breakage had occurred at least once.
Those who worked in the suburban areas more often engaged in high-risk sexual activities including oral and anal sex than those from downtown areas.
Sixty six percent of sex workers reported having non-client sexual partners such as boyfriends or husbands and condom usage among these partners were only 34 percent.
The researchers advised that "promotion of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge be targeted towards FSWs in Shanghai, especially those operating in the suburbs."
The study titled A study of HIV/AIDS related knowledge, attitude and behaviors among female sex workers in Shanghai China was published in the June 2010 issue of BMC Public Health.
Jimmy Downs
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