Understanding risk behaviors and HIV prevalence rate among female sex workers in Ca Mau province in 2012

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 female sex workers (FSW) in Ca Mau in 2012. The HIV prevalence rate among those FSWs was low (0.5%). However, this finding does not reflect the real situation of HIV infection due to difficulty in approaching this target group. The mean number of sexual encounters with clients among study participants was 12.6 within the last month (ranging from 2 to 111 times). The FSWs' condom use rate in the latest intercourse with clients was low (64.5%). Only 28.0% of FSWs used condoms in all intercourses with clients during last month. The proportion of FSWs with access to STIs examination and treatment, and HIV testing was not high, 27.0% and 47.5% respectively. Among FSWs being given HIV testing, only 37.5% knew their test results. Some recommendations were made by the study including to enhance health communication activities, promote condom use programme as well as improve the quality of voluntary counselling and testing services.