Sex workers in Vietnam: How many, how risky?

• Published in: AIDS education and prevention Vol. 16; no. 5; pp. 389 - 404
• Main Authors: TRUONG TAN MINH, DO THI NHAN, WEST, Gary R, DURANT, Tonji M, JENKINS, Richard A, PHAM THI HUONG, VALDISERRI, Ronald O
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Guilford 01.10.2004; Guilford Press
• Subjects: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome; Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Beaches; Biological and medical sciences; Career Choice; Condoms; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dining Facilities; Drug Use; Epidemiology. Vaccinations; Female; Females; Focus Groups; General aspects; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health risk assessment; Health risks; HIV; HIV Infections - epidemiology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; National Programs; Peer Teaching; Program Development; Prostitution; Public health; Rehabilitation Centers; Risk; Risk-Taking; Safe Sex - statistics & numerical data; Salaries and Fringe Benefits - statistics & numerical data; Sentinel Surveillance; Sex industry; Sex Work - statistics & numerical data; Sexual Behavior; Sexually transmitted diseases; Socioeconomic Factors; STD; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - epidemiology; Urban Areas; Vietnam; Vietnam - epidemiology; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Women; Workplace - statistics & numerical data; Asia; Vietnam; Human; Immunopathology; Condom; Family study; Use; Sexual behavior; Sex; Retroviridae; AIDS; Method; Immune deficiency; Lentivirus; Infection; Virus; Prostitution; Sexually transmitted disease; Viral disease; Risk factor; Female; Human immunodeficiency virus; Woman; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0899-9546; 1943-2755
• DOI: 10.1521/aeap.16.5.389.48740

Because of concerns for HIV risks and need to plan effective programs, we assessed the number and risks of sex workers in Nha Trang City, Vietnam. Sex workers were contacted in streets, beaches, bars, and restaurants, and a capture-recapture method was used to estimate their number. An estimated 444 women worked on the streets and beach ("direct" sex workers) and 486 worked in bars and restaurants or other facilities ("indirect" sex workers). Direct and indirect sex workers engaged in sex work primarily to support their families. Direct sex workers were older and were more at risk for HIV risk than were indirect sex workers. Direct sex workers had more clients, were less likely to report always using condoms (67% vs. 81%), more likely to report a prior sexually transmitted infection (19% vs. 16%), and more likely to have clients who inject drugs (16% vs. 13%). This assessment has implications for planning programs to reduce sex work and its risks in Vietnam and potentially other countries.