Epidemiol. Infect. (2015), 143, 258–266. © Cambridge University Press 2014 doi:10.1017/S0950268814000892
Prevalence and correlates of HIV infection and sexually transmitted infections in female sex workers (FSWs) in Shanghai, China
R. S. REMIS 1 *, L. KANG 2 , L. CALZAVARA 1 , Q. PAN 2 , J. LIU 1 , T. MYERS 1 , J. REN 2 , 3 , X. TANG 4 and Shanghai Health District Research Group5 1
Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada Shanghai Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China 3 Center for Outcomes Research, University of Illinois College of Medcine at Peoria, IL, USA 4 Hongkou District Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China 5 Songjiang District, Jiading District, Baoshan District, Minhang District, Luwan District and Changning District Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China 2
Received 21 August 2013; Final revision 11 February 2014; Accepted 20 March 2014; first published online 23 April 2014 SUMMARY In 2009, we examined HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in 750 female sex workers (FSWs) in Shanghai using a cross-sectional survey. Participants (mean age 27 years) were interviewed and tested for HIV and selected STIs. Prevalence was: HIV 0·13%, chlamydia 14·7%, gonorrhoea 3·5% and syphilis 1·3%. In a demographic multivariate model, younger age, higher income and originating from provinces other than Zhejiang and Shanghai were independently associated with STI. In a social and sexual behavioural model, women working in small venues with fewer clients per week, use of drugs, and higher price charged per sex act indicated a greater risk for STI. Although HIV appears rare in Shanghai FSWs, chlamydial infection is common, especially in women aged 95%) women were of Han ethnicity and were born outside Shanghai. The mean age was 27 years (range 16–46 years). There was a relatively strong representation from all venues except for beauty salons/bathhouses/other.
Table 1. Demographic characteristics in female sex workers in Shanghai Demographic characteristic Age, years [N, mean (range)] Ethnicity, n (%) Han Non-Han
750
27·3 (16–46)
713 33
95·6 4·4
Marital status, n (%) Single, never married Cohabiting Married/remarried Separated/divorced/widowed
215 125 336 71
28·8 16·7 45·0 9·5
Education, n (%) None Elementary incomplete Elementary complete Junior high incomplete Junior high complete High school College or above
16 73 104 114 293 130 19
2·1 9·7 13·9 15·2 39·1 17·4 2·5
Monthly income (yuan*), n (%)
Prevalence and correlates of HIV infection and sexually transmitted infections in female sex workers (FSWs) in Shanghai, China
R. S. REMIS 1 *, L. KANG 2 , L. CALZAVARA 1 , Q. PAN 2 , J. LIU 1 , T. MYERS 1 , J. REN 2 , 3 , X. TANG 4 and Shanghai Health District Research Group5 1
Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada Shanghai Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China 3 Center for Outcomes Research, University of Illinois College of Medcine at Peoria, IL, USA 4 Hongkou District Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China 5 Songjiang District, Jiading District, Baoshan District, Minhang District, Luwan District and Changning District Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China 2
Received 21 August 2013; Final revision 11 February 2014; Accepted 20 March 2014; first published online 23 April 2014 SUMMARY In 2009, we examined HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in 750 female sex workers (FSWs) in Shanghai using a cross-sectional survey. Participants (mean age 27 years) were interviewed and tested for HIV and selected STIs. Prevalence was: HIV 0·13%, chlamydia 14·7%, gonorrhoea 3·5% and syphilis 1·3%. In a demographic multivariate model, younger age, higher income and originating from provinces other than Zhejiang and Shanghai were independently associated with STI. In a social and sexual behavioural model, women working in small venues with fewer clients per week, use of drugs, and higher price charged per sex act indicated a greater risk for STI. Although HIV appears rare in Shanghai FSWs, chlamydial infection is common, especially in women aged 95%) women were of Han ethnicity and were born outside Shanghai. The mean age was 27 years (range 16–46 years). There was a relatively strong representation from all venues except for beauty salons/bathhouses/other.
Table 1. Demographic characteristics in female sex workers in Shanghai Demographic characteristic Age, years [N, mean (range)] Ethnicity, n (%) Han Non-Han
750
27·3 (16–46)
713 33
95·6 4·4
Marital status, n (%) Single, never married Cohabiting Married/remarried Separated/divorced/widowed
215 125 336 71
28·8 16·7 45·0 9·5
Education, n (%) None Elementary incomplete Elementary complete Junior high incomplete Junior high complete High school College or above
16 73 104 114 293 130 19
2·1 9·7 13·9 15·2 39·1 17·4 2·5
Monthly income (yuan*), n (%)
