The utilization of sexual transmitted infections treatment and HIV testing services among female workers at entertainment establishments in Hai Phong city, 2014

Abstract

This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among female workers at entertainment establishments (FWEEs) in Do Son and Cat Ba districts, Hai Phong city, in 2014 with the following objectives: (i) To describe the current use of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) treatment and HIV testing services among FWEEs; and (ii) to identify the satisfaction with services among FWEEs. As many as 492 FWEEs were directly interviewed by researchers using a structured questionnaire. Researchers have applied the mapping technique to map the entertainment establishments where FWEEs work as well as to estimate the number of FWEEs. The FWEEs have also been recruited by snowball sampling technique. We applied the Likert 5-scales to determine the general satisfaction of FWEEs with health services in terms of 8 aspects. Results: About 78.4% of FWEEs who got STIs received STIs treatment (89.3% in Do Son; 27.3% in Cat Ba; p<0.001). Up to 50% of FWEEs received treatment at private clinics, while 40% invited doctors to provide treatment services at entertainment establishments. However, the rate of satisfaction with STIs treatment services was low (38%-45%). While 70% of FWEEs had their HIV tests done, but only 30.7% of them had HIV tests done last month.Those who felt satisfied with counseling/HIV testing services accounted for a high percentage (>75%). Recommendations: It is needed to improve provision and quality of STIs counseling and treatment services for FWEEs through public health facilities, and to advocate and support FWEEs to have periodical screening and treatment for STIs.