Unmet need for knowledge, attitudes about HIV and HIV testing among female sex workers in Do Son, Cat Ba, Hai Phong 2014

Abstract

        A cross-sectional study was conducted in Do Son and Cat Ba districts - Hai Phong City, in 2014 with the following objectives: (i) to describe unmet need for knowledge, attitudes about HIV and HIV testing among female sex workers (FSW) in Entertainment Establishments in Hai Phong City, and (ii) to determine the relationship between above-mentioned unmet needs and some factors. Researchers applied a sampling strategy with 2 stages: mapping and snowball, with a total of 492 FSWs participating in the study. FSWs have been given face-to-fate interviews with a structured questionnaire about knowledge, attitudes on HIV/AIDS and HIV testing. Data was processed and analyzed with Epidata and STATA 12.0 while descriptive statistics and univariate/multivariate logistic regression have been applied. Findings: The proportion of FSWs having unmet need for comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS was 57.9%; about 24.5% of FSWs had unmet need for 'accepting' attitudes of HIV/AIDS; and 62.7% of FSWs had unmet need for HIV testing. There was an association between unmet need for comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS and number of clients per day and monthly income among FSWs. Education, monthly income of FSWs were related with unmet need for knowledge of mother to child HIV transmission. In addition, unmet need for 'accepting' attitudes of HIV/AIDS was also related with FSWs' monthly income, study site, and length of time to work as FSWs. Recommendations: Developing brochures/leaflets on HIV/AIDS including information about health facilities where FSWs can get HIV testing, and distributing them to Entertainment Establishments. Counseling is given with small groups of FSWs about HIV/AIDS as well as HIV testing, focusing on those FSWs who belong to such groups of low education, ethnic minorities, newly engaged in sex work. Training sessions about HIV/AIDS for the Owners of Entertainment Establishments should be organized so that they can communicate with FSWs.