Factors Associated With Willingness To Participate In Microbicide Clinical Trials Among Female Sex Workers

Objective: Our work in the city of Xichang, Sichuan Province, focused on the willingness to participate(WTP) in clinical trials of microbicide among female sex workers (FSW), their acceptability of microbicide, plus the potential hinders and facilitating factors, Besides, we explored their alcohol and drug use, knowledge about HIV and their perspectives on HIV risk and prevention. The relationships between several influence factors and WTP of FSW is analyzed so as to provide support for the future microbicide clinical trials of tailoring the design of the trials to better meet the specific needs of FSW.Method: Qualitative face-to-face and in-depth interviews were used to investigate a total of 30 FSW according to the semi-structured, open-ended interview guides. The raw data was coded and categorized into manageable units of analysis with the help of Weft QDA software. Initial categories for analyzing data were draw from the interview guides. Cross sectional study method was used to investigate a total of 404 FSW according to the structured questionnaires. EpiData3.0 software was used for data double-entry and check for consistency. Data analyzing work were done by SAS9.13, Mplus5.2 and SmartPLS2.0 software. Descriptive statistics were used to depict the information of their behaviors of alcohol and drug use, knowledge about HIV and their perspectives on HIV risk and prevention. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and Partial least squares path modeling (PLSPM) were used to study the relationships between several influence factors and WTP of FSW.Results: FSW enrolled in this research had poor education and they got limited knowledge about HIV, only 56.19%(227)of them had participated a HIV test in the past. They got a high risk of infecting HIV and other sexually transmitted disease(STD)and also lacked of social support. They had a high rate(77.97%(315/404))of acceptability about microbicide and 53.47%(216//404) of them indicated that they would like to participate in future microbicide clinical trials. Possible benefits from getting enrolled in the trials was positively associated with WTP, while concerned about the drugs, anticipated physical harm and economical losses from participated in the trails, husband/partners'attitudes, fear of social isolation and discrimination were negatively associated with WTP.Conclusion: FSW are ideal and potential participates in microbicide clinical trails, who are also mostly likely to benefit from an effective microbicide. According to the physiological, psychological, and social risks involved in participation in the trials, the research protocol should provide an accurate statement of the anticipated benefit of the procedures and interventions required for the scientific conduct of the trial. Social support for FSW should also be addressed to ensure that FSW and the communities from which they come and the research is carried out are meaningfully involved in the design, implementation, monitoring, and dissemination of results of HIV prevention trials.