Study On HIV Knowledge, Attutude And Behavior Among International Seaman In Shanghai Port

Objectives:The purpose of this article is to understand the current status and characteristics of AIDS and Syphilis among the international seamen,based on the analysis of various aspects of International Seamen,including demography,mobility, the AIDS-related knowledge and attitude,sexual behaviors,testing of AIDS and syphilis.In particular,this article provides comprehensive basic materials of AIDS-related knowledge,attitudes and behaviors among the international seamen through comparison between the group from Chinese mainland and foreign seamen, so that to provide theoretical basis for further intervention,and improve the AIDS monitoring system for international seamen in China.Methods:A cross-sectional study is conducted for this article.We invited target semen to join the survey upon their acknowledgement of our purpose.The structured questionnaire is completed by seamen independently,with our assistance to address their questions regarding the questionnaire where necessary.We established a database based on all the valid data through epidata 3.1.All the data is inputed by two persons at the same time,and we checked the consistency by epidata 3.1.Thereafter, we used SPSS 15.0 to conduct further analysis.Frequency is used to describe the distribution of all the variables investigated,chi-square test or Fisher's exact test is used to check the relations between the variables classified.Regarding the connection among commercial sex.AIDS,syphilis testing and related factors,first we conduct all study variables of the single-factor analysis,without adjusting the parameters to provide estimates(OR values and 95%CI).Then we carry out study based on multi-factor analysis of variables,selection of significant variables in logistic regression model to establish and calculate the correction variable OR values and 95% CI.Results:A total of 1033 international seamen filled in the questionnaire. Prevalence of HIV and markers for syphilis was 1.0%(95%confidence interval[CI], 0.4-1.6) and 1.3%(95%CI,0.9-1.7),respectively.According to the survey,we find seamen work under high pressure;more than 95%Chinese seamen can not connect with family during their voyage about half of year.In the meantime,international seamen are with higher mobility and education,more than 60%foreign seamen have college education level.Hense international seamen have a higher degree of knowledge.However both Chinese and foreign seaman showed a lower awareness of selfprotection.In particular,less than 50%of seamen from China mainland think condom can prevent HIV transmission.On this basis,38.3%Chinese seamen with experience of commercial sex had sexual contact without condoms.Better knowledge did not prevent the risk behaviors.9 cases were scoring 20 points and 5 cases scoring 16-20 points as analysis the condition of 19 cases that announce infected with HIV and syphilis.At the same time,5.7%foreigner and 1.4%Chinese seamen have the experience of using drug or stimulants.Ecstasy is preferred by both of two groups. About 60%international seamen did not have sex with their main sex partner in the past 6 months with corresponds to 30%international seamen have sex with prostitude in the past 30 days,especially,in the past 6 months about 43.4%foreign seamen have experience of commercial sex.Compared with foreign seaman,Chinese seamen have lower level of commercial sex(OR.0.474;95%CI,0.322-0.700).The longer annual working days,the higher level of commercial sex there is.Frequently landing,alcohol and drug use are associated with increased risk for commercial sex.In addition,6.4% Chinese and 6.9%foreign seamen respectively acknowledge to have sex with men. The foreign seamen have higher ratio of AIDS and syphilis testing than Chinese seamen,33.6%Chinese and 64.5%foreign seamen respectively have ever tested HIV. 20.5%Chinese and 46.4%foreign seamen have ever tested syphilis.Seamen with longer working experience and better knowledge of HIV would have higher initiative to test HIV and syphilis initiative.About 55%Chinese seamen are not satisfied with their working experience and more than 20%international seamen have ever been looked down during working time.Conclusions:International seamen in shanghai port have higher mobility. incidence of risk sex behaviors,as well as AIDS,syphilis infection rates.International seamen do not have a comprehensive understanding of HIV,particularly in the self-protection.A large number of international seamen have experience of commercial sex due to separate with main sex partner in long time.Based on the above parts,some international seamen could have sex with men occasionally. Chinese seamen have lower ratio of testing HIV and syphilis.Prevention and intervention measures should be taken as soon as possible to curb the HIV,syphilis spreading among international seamen and other population.