Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

HIV-Related Risk Among Female Migrants Working in Entertainment Venues in China

  • Published:
Prevention Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

China has experienced a surge in internal migration during the past decade, and migrant populations have been identified as a high-risk group for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Young female migrants often find employment in entertainment venues (bars, karaoke parlors, and massage parlors) located in metropolitan cities, and sex work transactions frequently occur in these venues. We examined factors associated with risk for HIV, other STIs, and reproductive health challenges in a cross-sectional study of 358 young female migrants, ages 18–29, working in entertainment venues in a rapidly growing urban city in China. Results indicate high levels of behavioral risk for HIV and other STIs, low rates of HIV testing, and high prevalence of problem drinking and mental health problems, including recent depression symptoms and suicidal ideation. Factors associated with increased STIs and genitourinary tract infections included commercial sex work, early sexual debut, abortion history, illicit drug use, and anxiety. Factors associated with increased HIV testing included employment in an affluent entertainment venue, education level, knowledge about where to obtain free HIV tests, condom use, and general HIV/AIDS knowledge. Findings of this study highlight the insufficient coverage of current public health services to female migrants working in entertainment venues and call for more assertive prevention interventions to mitigate risk for sexual, reproductive, behavioral, and mental health problems in this mobile population.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson, A. F., Qingsi, Z., Hua, X., & Jianfeng, B. (2003). China's floating population and the potential for HIV transmission: A social–behavioural perspective. AIDS Care, 15, 177–185.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Babor, T. F., Higgins-Biddle, J. C., Saunders, J. B., & Monteiro, M. S. (2001). AUDIT, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test: Guidelines for use in primary health care. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, L., Zhang, H. B., Wang, J., Hu, H. L., Wu, H. H., & Zhu, J. L. (2009). Relationship between depressive symptoms and social capital, social networks among female migrant adolescents in Hefei. Chinese Journal of Disease Control and Prevention, 13, 302–305.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, L., Zhang, H., Wang, J., Li, J., Wei, S., Duan, Y., & Fang, Y. (2010). Factors of premarital sex and sexual risk behavior among female migrant adolescents in Hefei. Chinese Journal of Disease Control and Prevention, 14, 1066–1069.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, X. S., Peeling, R. W., Yin, Y. P., & Mabey, D. C. (2011). The epidemic of sexually transmitted infections in China: Implications for control and future perspectives. BMC Medicine, 9, 111.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Y., Li, X., Zhou, Y., Zhang, C., Wen, X., & Guo, W. (2012). Alcohol consumption in relation to work environment and key sociodemographic characteristics among female sex workers in China. Substance Use and Misuse, 47, 1086–1099.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, M. S., Henderson, G. E., Aiello, P., & Zheng, H. (1996). Successful eradication of sexually transmitted diseases in the People's Republic of China: Implications for the 21st century. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 174, S223–S229.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Graaf, R., Vanwesenbeeck, I., Van Zessen, G., Straver, C. J., & Visser, J. H. (1995). Alcohol and drug use in heterosexual and homosexual prostitution, and its relation to protection behaviour. AIDS Care, 7, 35–47.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fang, X., Li, X., Yang, H., Hong, Y., Zhao, R., Dong, B., Liu, W., & Stanton, B. (2007). Profile of female sex workers in a Chinese county: Does it differ by where they came from and where they work? World Health and Population, 9, 46–64.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gil, V. E., Wang, M. S., Anderson, A. F., Lin, G. M., & Wu, Z. O. (1996). Prostitutes, prostitution and STD/HIV transmission in mainland China. Social Science and Medicine, 42, 141–152.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg, J., Magder, L., & Aral, S. (1992). Age at first coitus: A marker for risky sexual behavior in women. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 19, 331–334.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • He, D., Zhou, Y., Ji, N., Wu, S., Wang, Z., Decat, P., & Cheng, Y. (2012). Study on sexual and reproductive health behaviors of unmarried female migrants in China. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Research, 38, 632–638.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hesketh, T., Zhang, J., & Qiang, D. J. (2005). HIV knowledge and risk behaviour of female sex workers in Yunnan Province, China: Potential as bridging groups to the general population. AIDS Care, 17, 958–966.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hong, Y., & Li, X. (2008). Behavioral studies of female sex workers in China: A literature review and recommendation for future research. AIDS and Behavior, 12, 623–636.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hong, Y., Stanton, B., Li, X., Yang, H., Lin, D., Fang, X., & Mao, R. (2006). Rural-to-urban migrants and the HIV epidemic in China. AIDS and Behavior, 10, 421–430.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hosmer, D. W., & Lemeshow, S. (2000). Applied logistic regression. New York, NY: Wiley.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, W., Dong, Y. Y., Chen, L., Operario, D., Song, D. D., Wang, J. et al. (2013). Sexual risk behavior and reproductive health among young rural-to-urban female migrants in China. Manuscript submitted for publication.

  • Huang, Z. J., Wang, W., Martin, M. C., Nehl, E. J., Smith, B. D., & Wong, F. Y. (2011). "Bridge population": Sex workers or their clients? - STI prevalence and risk behaviors of clients of female sex workers in China. AIDS Care, 23, 45–53.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kaiser Health News. (2008). More Than 50% of Commercial Sex Workers in Beijing Do Not Use Condoms, Report Says. Kaiser Health News. Retrieved from http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/daily-reports/2008/november/26/dr00055763.aspx?referrer=search.

  • Liang, Z., & Ma, Z. (2004). China’s floating population: New evidence from the 2000 census. Population and Development Review, 30, 467–488.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, S., Hu, Z., Deng, Y., & Wang, Y. (2011). The regional types of China's floating population: Identification methods and spatial patterns. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 21, 35–48.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, X. C., Sun, L. M., Tang, M. Q., Liu, Q. L., Yang, J., Ma, D. D., & Zhao, G. F. (1997). The analysis of anxiety self-assessment among 2462 adolescents. Chinese Mental Health Journal, 11, 75–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, X. C., Tang, M. Q., Chen, K., Hu, L., & Wang, A. Z. (1995). The comparison of depression evaluation results between SDS and CES-D scales among college students. Chinese Mental Health Journal, 9, 19–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma, Q., Ono-Kihara, M., Cong, L., Xu, G., Pan, X., Zamani, S., & Kihara, M. (2009). Early initiation of sexual activity: A risk factor for sexually transmitted diseases, HIV infection, and unwanted pregnancy among university students in China. BMC Public Health, 9, 111.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mantell, J. E., Kelvin, E. A., Sun, X., Zhou, J., Exner, T. M., Hoffman, S., & Leu, C. S. (2011). HIV/STI risk by migrant status among workers in an urban high-end entertainment centre in Eastern China. Health Education Research, 26, 283–295.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China, Joint United Nations Program on HIV AIDS (UNAIDS), World Health Organization. (2011). 2011 Report on the estimation of HIV/AIDS epidemic in China. Beijing: National Center for AIDS/STD Prevention and Control, China CDC 2011.

  • National Population and Family Planning Commission of the People’s Republic of China. (2011). China's floating population development report. Beijing: China Population Publishing House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pirkle, C., Soundardjee, R., & Stella, A. (2007). Female sex workers in China: Vectors of disease? Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 34, 695–703.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shao, C., Xu, W., & Ye, G. (1996). Sexually transmitted disease control in China (1949–1994). Chinese Medical Science Journal, 11, 252–257.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Valdiserri, R. O. (2007). Late HIV diagnosis: Bad medicine and worse public health. PLoS Medicine, 4, e200.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, B., Li, X., Stanton, B., Zhang, L., & Fang, X. (2010). Alcohol use, unprotected sex, and sexually transmitted infections among female sex workers in China. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 37, 629–636.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Q., Fu, X. L., Wei, Y. L., Jia, Y., Liao, J., He, Y., & Lu, R. (2007). The study on anxiety and its influence factors on the floating population in Chengdu. Journal of Preventive Medicine Information, 23, 544–546.

    Google Scholar 

  • Webber, G. (2007). The impact of migration on HIV prevention for women: Constructing a conceptual framework. Health Care for Women International, 28, 712–730.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wei, S. B., Chen, Z. D., Zhou, W., Wu, F. B., Li, S. P., & Shan, J. G. (2004). A study of commercial sex and HIV/STI-related risk factors among hospitality girls in entertainment establishments in Wuhan, China. Sexual Health, 1, 141–144.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, Z., Sullivan, S. G., Wang, Y., Rotheram-Borus, M. J., & Detels, R. (2007). Evolution of China's response to HIV/AIDS. The Lancet, 369, 679–690.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu, Y., Ji, Y., Yuan, Y. F., Li, C. Y., & Chang, C. (2012). Depressive symptoms and related factors among floating population. Chinese Mental Health Journal, 26, 112–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, X., Derlega, V. J., & Luo, H. (2007). Migration, behaviour change, and HIV/STD risks in China. AIDS Care, 19, 282–288.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, X., & Xia, G. (2006a). Gender, migration, risky sex, and HIV infection in China. Studies in Family Planning, 37, 241–250.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, X., & Xia, G. (2006b). Gender, work, and HIV risk: Determinants of risky sexual behavior among female entertainment workers in China. AIDS Education and Prevention, 18, 333–347.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ye, X., Shang, M., Shen, T., Pei, B., Jiang, X., & Cai, Y. (2012). Social, psychological, and environmental-structural factors determine consistent condom use among rural-to-urban migrant female sex workers in Shanghai China. BMC Public Health, 12, 599.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author Note

This work was supported by China AIDS Program Round 3, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (No. ZY38), by a pilot grant from Brown University Office of International Affairs, and by infrastructure and resources provided by the Brown University Alcohol Research Center on HIV/AIDS (NIH/NIAAA P01AA019072) and the Lifespan/Tufts/Brown Center for AIDS Research (NIH/NIAID P30AI042853). We would like to thank all of participants who supported this research. We also would like to thank the staff of the Baohe and Luyang District Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of Hefei for their help in facilitating this study. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of any study sponsors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 69 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui Province, China

    Wen Huang, Yanyan Dong, Dandan Song, Huan He & Hongbo Zhang

  2. School of Public Health, Brown University, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI, USA

    Don Operario

  3. Department of Infectious Diseases, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA

    Nickolas Zaller

  4. Luyang District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei, Anhui Province, China

    Haidong Tao

  5. Baohe District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei, Anhui Province, China

    Junrui Xia

Authors
  1. Wen Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Don Operario
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yanyan Dong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nickolas Zaller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Dandan Song
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Huan He
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Haidong Tao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Junrui Xia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Hongbo Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Don Operario or Hongbo Zhang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Huang, W., Operario, D., Dong, Y. et al. HIV-Related Risk Among Female Migrants Working in Entertainment Venues in China. Prev Sci 15, 329–339 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-013-0423-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-013-0423-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation