Internet Use Among Female Sex Workers in China: Implications for HIV/STI Prevention
- نوع فایل : کتاب
- زبان : انگلیسی
- مؤلف : Yan Hong Xiaoming Li Xiaoyi Fang Xiuyun Lin Chen Zhang
- چاپ و سال / کشور: 2010
Description
Based on a cross-sectional survey with 1,022 female sex workers (FSWs) recruited from different types of commercial sex venues in Southwest China, we examined their Internet-using behaviors and explored the feasibility of Internet-based HIV/STI intervention in this population. About 75% of FSWs were Internet users; among them 57% were frequent users, and 40% had searched HIV/STI information online. Internet use was significantly associated with younger age, more schooling, higher income, and engagement in a social network of Internet users. Frequent use of the Internet was associated only with factors of the social environment, such as peers’ Internet use. Two thirds of Internet-using FSWs were willing to participate in an online HIV/STI prevention program. Multivariate analyses showed that willingness to participate in an online HIV/STI prevention intervention was significantly associated with higher Internet use and younger age. Our data suggest that Internet may offer a promising strategy to deliver low-cost HIV/STI prevention programs for FSWs in China.
AIDS Behav (2011) 15:273–282 DOI 10.1007/s10461-010-9846-1 Published online: 17 November 2010
