Objective To understand the use and demand of health service for AIDS prevention and control in female entertainment workers (FEWs), and to provide reliable evidence for formulating intervention strategy and expanding service items.
Methods A questionnaire survey, including demographic information, AIDS/STD knowledge, counseling and testing, condom use and productive health, was conducted among 128 FEWs in 4 large and 18 small entertainment places using cluster sampling method in a town of Baoshan district, with 125 effective questionnaires collected.
Results The FEWs surveyed aged 18-44 years old, and the median was 28. The percentage of whose monthly income below 3 000 RMB was 77.6%. The correct answer of HIV transmission and basic knowledge of STD was in high rate but there were still many cognitive errors. In the FEWs interviewed, 98.4% answered that condoms were easy to get; 87.20% used condoms in last commercial sexual behavior; 33.6% had heard of AIDS voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) but only 13.6% received the service of HIV antibody testing; 59.2% had abortion in the past; only 31.2% received routine STD examination in past one year; and 64% of them reported having gynecological symptoms. It was found that age and STD knowledge score were the main influencing factors of gynecological symptoms.
Conclusion The FEWs are in need of AIDS/STD knowledge, counseling and testing information, condom using skills and gynecological care.
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