Background
AIDS as a burden to all over the world caused serious problems in some developing regions by threatening health of the population and stability of the society, especially in cross-border areas that have a complex crowd with many migrants. The HIV/AIDS situation of cross-border FSWs in China-Burma border region is not comprehensively known so far. Only have a clearly understanding of their circumstances, can health workers provide target health services for them.
Objectives
In view of the increasing HIV epidemic in China-Burma border areas in the past several years, this study tries to understand the HIV prevalence among two groups of cross-border FSWs; further describe socio-demographic characteristics in each group; identify risk behaviours related to consistent condom use; interpret HIV risk factors that contribute to HIV infection in each group of FSWs; describe health services currently being provided and particular health services needs of these FSWs.
Methods
This cross-sectional research design comprises two parts. Part one is a questionnaire based face-to-face interview to obtain self-reported information. A total of 142 cross-border FSWs were recruited from Ruili City, China (Burmese FSWs) and Laukkai City, Burma (Chinese FSWs). Convenience sampling method was used. Risk factors that mutually adjusted were analysed in two logistic regression models regarding condom use and HIV infection in each group and odds ratios (ORs) were obtained with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Part two of this study is voluntary venous blood drawing and testing for HIV infection. 136 cross-border FSWs [6 of part one (questionnaire interview) participants refused] attended part two study.
Results
In general, Burmese cross-border FSWs tended to be older, lower educated and married and had higher HIV prevalence (18.8%) compared with Chinese women (5%). Frequency of condom use with the paying clients was higher than with the regular partners in both groups. After adjustment, drug users had statistically significant OR of 6.89 (95% CI: 1.12 to 42.38) for condom use frequency in last sex behaviour compare to non-users in Burmese FSWs; based on Chinese FSWs’ condom use model, the more paying clients, the higher frequency of condom use they had (OR: 0.63 with 95% CI: 0.45 to 0.9). Age (year of birth) had a significant impact with two opposite direction on HIV infection in both Burmese group and the whole study population: positively relate to HIV infection in Burmese model (OR: 1.20 with 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.41); nevertheless, when Chinese ones were added, year of birth negatively related to HIV infection with OR of 0.84 (95% CI: 0.74 to 0.96). Generally, Burmese women had proportionally higher health services acceptance proportion to Chinese women. “HIV/AIDS awareness” and “HIV counselling and testing” were the most widely provided services in Burmese and Chinese group, respectively, and “free condom distribution” was the most needed health services of both cross-border FSWs.
Conclusion
This study provides better understanding about cross-border FSWs working in China-Burma border areas in which little information about their demographics, HIV infection, and high-risk behaviour has been known. From public health perspective, development and implementation of public health interventions and policies can get inspiration and support from this study. / published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:HKU/oai:hub.hku.hk:10722/206973 |
| Date | January 2014 |
| Creators | Zhang, Yihuai, 張藝懷 |
| Publisher | The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong) |
| Source Sets | Hong Kong University Theses |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | PG_Thesis |
| Rights | The author retains all proprietary rights, (such as patent rights) and the right to use in future works., Creative Commons: Attribution 3.0 Hong Kong License |
| Relation | HKU Theses Online (HKUTO) |
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