Abstract
Chinese female entertainment workers are at high risk for HIV. We assessed the impact of healthcare access on HIV knowledge, condom use, and their willingness to receive HIV testing. We surveyed 257 entertainment workers in a cross-sectional study. Demographic, knowledge, and behavioral risk factors were examined. Of 257 women, 107 (42.1 %) reported inconsistent condom use. Only 9 % had prior HIV testing. Their HIV knowledge was generally poor. Having access to healthcare, being able to obtain condoms, and managers providing health information were associated with consistent condom use (all P < 0.01). Having access to healthcare was related to previous HIV testing (P < 0.01). Our study showed that having a doctor and access to healthcare had positive effects on HIV knowledge and likelihood of condom use and previous HIV testing. Chinese medical providers can play a significant role in encouraging HIV testing and outreach in migrant women employed at entertainment venues.
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Acknowledgments and Financial Support
This work was supported in part by the Petersen Educational Enhancement Fund of Brown Medical School for community-based research; Foreign Studies Fellowship Program of the International Health Institute, Brown University; the International Travel Fellowship of Luke Charitable Foundation; and the Grant Number P30-AI-42853 from the National Institutes of Health, Lifespan-Tufts-Brown Center for AIDS Research (NIH/CFAR).
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The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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Terence T. Sio and Kenneth Chang are co-first authors.
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Sio, T.T., Chang, K., Jayakrishnan, R. et al. The Impact of Healthcare Access on Knowledge and Willingness for HIV Testing in Chinese Female Entertainment Workers. J Immigrant Minority Health 17, 1322–1329 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-014-0087-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-014-0087-7