Studies On STD/AIDS Intervention Among Market Vendors In Hefei And Policy Suggestion

Background Sexually transmitted disease (STD) has rapidly increased in China in recent decades. However, few studies were carried out to investigate the STD/AIDS knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) in the population working in congregating trading markets (CTMs).Objective Based on the KAP of STD/AIDS and STD incidence among the market vendors, a series of targeted interventions were carried out and evaluated. A mode of STD/AIDS interventions suitable for the market vendors was explored. Methods Three CTMs and their surrounding 10 private clinics in Hefei city was chose as intervention fields, and a series of comprehensive interventions was used to the market vendors who aged between 18-64 and own a stall: health education targeted to the lacking of HIV/AIDS knowledge of general market vendors, STD medical service marketing targeted to those market vendors who had high risk attitude and sexual practice and STD symptomatic treatment targeted to the STD patients in private clinics. Data analysis was done by using the SPSS. The methods of descriptive analysis, the X2 testing and a binary logistic regression were utilized.Results A good result was achieved after health education. The rates of correctly answering questions about STD / AIDS varied between 37.4%-88.6%, which were about 10% higher than before(P<0.01). Their attitudes toward STD/HIV infected and sexual behavior also got better; The medical-care seeking behavior of high risk people was also strengthened, the rate of seeking medical service after occurring of STD-like symptoms increased from 43.7% to 57.9% (P <0.05). The satisfaction rate among patients in the clinics were increased from 85.0% to 93.0% (P <0.05); STD symptomatic treatments was proved to be an appropriate way of treating STD in grass-root level private clinics, the effective rates for treating three kinds of STD symptoms were above93%. The satisfaction rate of patients towards the simplified treatment course and good effects was above 86%. The majority of doctors expressed their willingnesses to continue STD symptomatic treatment in their clinics. A comprehensive intervention model was proposed for the market vendors under the guide of the three levels of prevention theory. It covers all the population in the CTMs and proved effective. Conclusions congregated trading market is a special place where many populations with different background lived. It is crucial to implement STD/HIV preventions and interventions for them to stop a potential increase of STDs in China. The intervention measures of health education, STD medical service marketing and STD symptomatic treatment were proved to be effective to prevent and control STD/AIDS in CTMs. The experience draw from our study can be of reference value to the similar studies done elsewhere.