A study on syphilis and HSV-2 infection and related behaviors among female sex workers who take new types of drugs in Jiaozhou city / 中华预防医学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the prevalence of syphilis and HSV-2 among female sex workers (FSWs) who use new types of drugs in Jiaozhou city.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Through convenient sampling, an anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted among female sex workers to collect demographic characteristics, new-type drugs abusing characteristics and related sexual behaviors from October to December, 2013. Blood specimens were drawn for serological tests of syphilis antibody and HSV-2 antibody. Urine specimens of the subjects surveyed were collected to test for methamphetamine. Differences in demographic characteristics, new-type drug abusing characteristics, and sexual behaviours between drug-abusing FSWs and non-drug-abusing FSWs were compared by t-test and χ(2)-test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 460 FSWs were recruited in this study, and 105 FSWs admitted their drug abuse history. Among the 341 urine specimens confirmed to be methamphetamine positive, there were 3 FSWs claimed that they never abuse new-type drugs. The rate of new-type drug abuse was 23.5% (108/460). A total of 71.4% (75/105) of the new drug-abusing FSWs started using drugs under 25 years old. The main reasons for drug abuse were clients request (24, 22.9%), making more money (23, 21.9%) and companion temptations (22, 21.0%). Totally, 41.9% of them (44/105) took drugs with 4-5 persons, 32.4% (34/105) had sex with 2-3 men after taking drugs, and 60.2% of new-type drug-abusing FSWs (65/108) used condoms in the latest commercial intercourse, while only 7.4% FSWs (8/108) used condoms every time during their commercial sex activities in the recent month. Compared with FSWs having no drug abuse behavior, drug-abusing FSWs had higher single proportion (73.2% (79/108) vs 63.6% (224/352), χ(2) = 8.64, P < 0.05), lower condom use rate in the recent month (7.4% (8/108) vs 22.7% (80/352), χ(2) = 12.53, P < 0.01) and higher pregnancy rate in the recent 6 months (24.1% (26/108) vs 8.8% (31/352), χ(2) = 17.74, P < 0.01) and most of them come from the middle and high-level entertainmens (78.7% (85/108) vs 65.1% (229/352), χ(2) = 13.09, P < 0.01). Among the new-type drug-abusing FSWs, the prevalence rates of syphilis and HSV-2 were 12.0% (13/108) and 55.6% (60/108) , respectively. A total of 33 FSWs claimed that they were diagnosed with STDs in the recent year (30.6%) . The rates of syphilis(12.0% (13/108) vs 4.0% (14/352), χ(2) = 9.72, P < 0.01), HSV-2(55.6% (60/108) vs 39.2% (138/352), χ(2) = 9.01, P < 0.01) and diagnosed STDs (30.6% (33/108) vs 17.9% (63/352), χ(2) = 8.02, P < 0.01) among the drug-abusing FSWs were significantly higher than those of non-drug-abusing FSWs.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There is a higher proportion of new-type drug abuse among the FSWs in Jiaozhou, with significantly higher prevalence rates of syphilis and HSV-2 infection, compared with non-new types of drug abusing FSWs. Prevalent risk sexual behaviors and ignorance of new-types drugs' harm were seen among them.</p>