AIDS 2002
      News & Abstracts: Abstract


            Code :MoPeC3496

            Title :HIV infection among female sex workers in Hanoi, Vietnam: 
            relationship between HIV seropositivity, characteristics of sex work 
            and injection drug use 

            Authors :T H Nguyen1, K C Pham2, C T Duong2, D T Bui2, A T Nguyen2, 
            V L Tran3, V K Nguyen3, V V Hoang4, I Wolffers5,
            Abstract:



            Background: The purpose of this stusy was to examine relationship 
            between HIV seropositivity, sex work and injecting drugs among 
            female sex workers (FSWs) in Hanoi, Vietnam. 

            Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 400 FSWs 
            attending the rehabilitation center for FSWs in Hanoi in 2000. The 
            structured questionnaire was developed comprising demographic 
            variables; history of involvement in sex work; history of sexual 
            practices with casual, regular clients and regular sexual partners; 
            history and treatment seeking behavior for sexually transmitted 
            diseases (STD); injecting practice in the last six month; knowledge 
            and risk perception about HIV/AIDS. Blood and urine were collected. 
            Urine samples were checked for heroin. Blood was tested for 
            syphilis, hepatitis C and HIV. 

            Results: The HIV prevalence among sex workers was 13% (52/400). The 
            rates of consistent condom use in the last 12 months were 73.9%, 
            56.3% and 48.1% for casual clients, regular paying clients and 
            husbands or lovers respectively. 29.2% reported that they had 
            injected in the last six months. We did not find any statistically 
            significant association between sexual activity variables and HIV 
            seropositivity. Several factors were significantly associated with 
            an increased risk of being HIV-infected: street-based sex work, 
            injecting drugs, urine positive for heroin, first injection at under 
            20 years of age, injecting more than once per day, reusing 
            contaminated needles and syringes. In the multiple logistic 
            regression analysis, two variable: injecting drug use and urine 
            positive for heroin, remained statistically significant for all 
            FSWs; three variables for injecting FSWs: urine positive for heroin, 
            first injection at under 20 years of age, and injecting more than 
            once per day. Conclusions: HIV interventions among FSWs, should 
            focus not only on preventing sexual transmission but also preventing 
            transmission by injecting drugs.





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