Studies On HIV/AIDS-Related Risk Behaviors And Preventive Intervention Program Among Prostitutes And Their Clients In Shenzhen In China

Although China is still a country with low HIV prevalence, rapid increase of HIV infections in recent years has been drawed much attention. The importance of HIV spread through commercial sex has come into scene in the nation, especially in southern coastal areas. The evidences, including expansion of commercial sex industry, high prevalence of HIV risk behaviors in commercial sex context, the increase of STD incidence nationwide with a speed of 30% yearly, provide a strong reason to suspect that HIV transmission through commercial sex may contribute its potential influence to the evolvement of HIV epidemic in China in immediate future.The whole of female prostitutes and male commercial sex clients detained in Re-educational Detention Center of Shenzhen between July, 1998 and March, 1999 were selected as targets for this study. Qualitative methods including in-depth interview, and focus group discussion and quantitative method using self-administrated structure questionnaire were used. The aims of this study were (1) to provide the profile of HIV risk behavior and social characteristics of both prostitutes and their clients in the context of coastal open-up areas; (2) to explore the psychosocial and personal determinants which had placed the respondents in the danger of HIV infection; (3) to evaluate the preventive interventions exerted in male and female populations and to develop the knowledge of HIV-related behavior change mechanism.Data gathered from 702 female respondents showed that 67.0% were unmarried young women with a mean age of 23.2 years old. 46.3% and 29.3% of female respondents finished junior middle schooling and senior middle schooling, respectively, comparing with 4.6% illiterates and 1.6% graduates. The population was characterized by its mobility with an average of 11.9 months stay in Shenzhen. But the duration engaging in commercial sex was mixed. The average time for providing commercial sex was 9.4 months, while 40.9% and 27.3% of women reported below six months and above twelve months, respectively. During the past six months prior to being detained, these women had an average of 1.2 commercial sex partners per day. A total of 54.0% and 26.2% of respondents reported previously selecting sing-dancing house and hotel as the sites for entertaining clients, respectively, while 24.2% and 16.0% choosing roadside and beauty-paler, respectively. 8.7% of women reported...