A Study of Commercial Sex and HIV/STI-Related Risk Factors Among Hospitality Girls in Entertainment Establishments in Wuhan, China

In China, hospitality girls (HGs) work at licensed entertainment establishments. Some offer sexual intercourse to their clients while others do not. The authors conducted this study "to understand the proportion of sex-HGs and non-sex HGs, the prevalence of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and the high-risk behaviors among HGs." The researchers noted that "commercial sex in entertainment establishments is one of the central routes for HIV/STI transmission in China."

The study took place in seven urban districts of Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province in central China. The authors investigated 257 HGs in 29 entertainment establishments (13 sauna/massage parlors, 10 dancing/karaoke bars, six barbershops) from November to December 1999 in an epidemiological cross-sectional study. The researchers collected information on sexual practices, drug abuse, condom use and other related factors through anonymous interview-administered questionnaires. Anonymous laboratory testing was performed on 185 serum samples for HIV-1 and HSV-2.

Of the 257 participants, the mean age was 22.7. One hundred forty-seven (57.2 percent) of the HGs said they were sex-HGs. Fifteen (5.8 percent) were drug users, of whom 12 (80 percent) were injecting and 3 (20 percent) were inhaling. Commercial sex was significantly correlated with drug use.

Among the sex-HGs, 29 (19.7 percent) had sex with male clients more than seven times per week; 76 (51.7 percent) claimed to have used condoms consistently. None of the 185 HGs tested was HIV seropositive, but 40 (21.6 percent) were HSV-2 seropositive. The presence of HSV-2 antibodies was positively correlated with sexual services.

"Although the HIV epidemic in Wuhan has not yet reached a high level, HIV/AIDS prevention and control must be taken into account in entertainment establishments because of the existing high risk-taking behaviours and high STI incidence among HGs. It is feasible to carry out epidemiological investigations, which are concerned with sensitive topics such as sex, drug abuse, etc. among community-based female sex workers if designed and implemented prudently."

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