Knowledge of female sex workers’ (FSW) condom use behaviors in Vietnam is important for predicting the epidemic and designing interventions. Four hundred FSWs in Hanoi were studied in 2002. Consistent condom use in the past month was higher with irregular clients (62%), less with regular clients (41%), and lowest with “love mates” (5%). Reasons for not using condoms were partner objection, condom unavailability, and belief of partner's disease-free status. Twenty-seven percent reported not always having a condom available. Thirty-five percent reported increasing condom use in the previous 6 months. Reluctance to ask clients to use condoms and condom unavailability were independently associated with inconsistent condom use with both irregular and regular clients. Older age was also associated with inconsistent condom use with irregular clients. Condom promotion should focus on FSWs and their partners. Negative attitudes toward FSWs and condom promotion need to be changed to reduce stigmatization of FSWs and to make condom use a norm in the society.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Ainsworth, M., Beyrer, C., and Soucat, A. (2003). AIDS and public policy: The lessons and challenges of “success” in Thailand. Health Policy, 64, 13–37.
Basuki, E., Wolffers, I., Deville, W., Erlaini, N., Luhpuri, D.,Hargono, R., Maskuri, N., Suesen, N., and van Beelen, N. (2002). Reasons for not using condoms among female sex workers in Indonesia. AIDS Education and Prevention, 14(2),102–116.
Davis, K. R., and Weller, S. C. (1999). The effectiveness of condoms in reducing heterosexual transmission of HIV. Family Planning Perspectives, 31, 272–279.
Feldblum, P. J., Morrison, C. S., Roddy, R. E., and Cates, W. Jr. (1995). The effectiveness of barrier methods of contraception in preventing the spread of HIV. AIDS, 9(Suppl. A), S85–S93.
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and United Nation Development Program (UNDP). (2002). Gender differences in the transitional economy of Vietnam. FAO Vietnam, Hanoi 8–13..
Ghys, P. D., Saidel, T., Vu, H. T., Savtchenko, I., Erasilova, I., Mashologu, Y. S., Indongo, R., Sikhosana, N., and Walker, N. (2003). Growing in silence: Selected regions and countries with expanding HIV/AIDS epidemics. AIDS, 17(Suppl. 4), S45–S50.
Herdt, G. (Ed.). (1997). Sexual cultures and migration in the era of AIDS: Anthropological and demographic perspectives. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Hien, N. T., Long, N. T., and Huan, T. Q. (2004). HIV/AIDS epidemics in Vietnam: Evolution and responses. AIDS Education and Prevention, 16(Suppl. A), 137–154.
Hong, T. K., Anh, T. V. N., and Ogden, J. (2004). Understanding HIV and AIDS-related stigma and discrimination in Vietnam. Hanoi, Vietnam: International Center for Research on Women, Institute for Social Development Studies .
Khoat, D. V., West, G. R., Valdiserri, R. O., and Phan, N. T. (2003). Peer education for HIV prevention in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: A national assessment. Journal of Community Health, 28(1), 1–17.
Larsen, M. M., Sartie, M. T., Musa, T., Casey, S. E., Tommy, J., and Saldinger, M. (2004). Changes in HIV/AIDS/STI knowledge, attitudes and practices among commercial sex workers and military forces in Port Loko, Sierra Leone. Disasters, 28(3), 239–254.
Le, T. G., Nguyen, T. S., Le, T. L. T., Lan, V., Hudes, S. E., and Lindan, C. (2000). Evaluation of STD/HIV prevention needs of low- and middle-income female sex workers in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. AIDS and Behavior, 4(1), 83–91.
Manopaiboon, C., Brunnell, R. E., Kilmarx, P. H., Chaikummao, S., Limpakarnjanarat, K., Supawitkul, S., St. Louis, M. E., and Mastro, T. D. (2003). Leaving sex work: Barriers, facilitating factors and consequences for female sex workers in northern Thailand. AIDS Care, 15(1), 39–52.
Mills, S., Benjarattanaporn, P., Bennett, A., Pattalung, R. N., Sundhagul, D., Trongsawad, P., Gregorich, S. E., Hearst, N., and Mandel, J. S. (1997). HIV risk behavior surveillance in Bangkok, Thailand: Sexual behavior trends among eight population groups. AIDS, 11(Suppl. 1), S43–S51.
National AIDS Standing Bureau (NASB) and Family Health International (FHI). (2001). HIV/AIDS Behavioral Surveillance Survey, Vietnam 2000.
Rojanapithayakorn, W., and Hanenberg, R. (1996). The 100% condom use program in Thailand. AIDS, 10(1), 1–7.
Rothman, K., and Greenland, S. (1998). Modern epidemiology (2nd ed.). New York: Lippincott–Raven.
Ruxrungtham, K., Brown, T., and Phanuphak, P. (2004). HIV/AIDS in Asia. Lancet, 364(9428), 69–82.
Subcommittee on HIV/AIDS Surveillance. (2003). HIV Sentinel Surveillance Report. Hanoi, Vietnam: Ministry of Health.
Thuy, N. T. T., Lindan, C. P., Phong, T. H., Dat, T. V., Nhung, V. T., Barclay, J., and Khiem, H. B. (1999). Predictors of visits to commercial sex workers by male attendees at sexually transmitted disease clinics in southern Vietnam. AIDS, 13, 719–725.
Tran, N. T., Detels, R., Hien, T. N., Long, T. H., and Nga, H. T. P. (2004). Drug use, sexual behaviors and practices among female sex workers in Hanoi, Vietnam—A qualitative study. International Journal of Drug Policy, 15(3), 189–195.
Tuan, N. A., Hien, N. T., Chi, P. K., Giang, L. T., Thang, B. D., Long, H. T., Saidel, T., and Detels, R. (2004). Intravenous drug use among street-based sex workers: A high-risk behavior for HIV transmission. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 31(1), 15–19.
UNAIDS/WHO. AIDS Epidemic Update: December 2003 , UNAIDS/03.39E, 1–13.
Ward, H., Day, S., Green, A., Cooper, K., and Weber, J. (2004). Declining prevalence of STI in the London sex industry, 1985 to 2002. Sexually Transmitted Infection, 80(5), 374–376.
Witte, S. S., Wada, T., El-Bassel, N., Gilbert, L., and Wallace, J. (2000). Predictors of female condom use among women exchanging street sex in New York City. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 27(2), 93–100.
Wong, M. L., Lubek, I., Dy, B. C., Pen, S., Kros, S., and Chhit, M. (2003). Social and behavioral factors associated with condom use among direct sex workers in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 79, 163–165.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This project was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health/Fogarty International Center (#TW00013). The authors thank Dr. Nguyen Tran Hien and Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan for their valuable support. We are very grateful to the outreach workers, the staff of the Hanoi Dermatology and Venerology Center, and DKT Vietnam for their contributions to the conduct of the study, and to Wendy Aft for assisting in the preparation of the manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tran, T., Detels, R. & Lan, H. Condom Use and Its Correlates Among Female Sex Workers in Hanoi, Vietnam. AIDS Behav 10, 159–167 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-005-9061-7
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-005-9061-7