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Abstract
Objective: Alcohol use is a key determinant of sexual risk behaviors, but pathways to alcohol use in the context of commercial sex still remain unclear. The present study explores reasons for drinking and their roles on alcohol use problems among female sex workers (FSWs) in different types of commercial sex venues. Method: In 2009, a sample of 1,022 FSWs from Guangxi, China completed a survey containing a 10-item Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and a 28-item measure of reasons for drinking. Factor analysis revealed five reasons for drinking: suppression, disinhibition, work requirement, sexual enhancement, and confidence booster. Results: All identified reasons except confidence booster appeared to be related to a higher tendency of developing alcohol use problems among FSWs. Types of commercial sex venues moderated the relationship between work requirement and alcohol use problems. Conclusions: Alcohol-risk reduction interventions among this population need to provide them with alternative approaches to regulate emotions and modify their misconceptions about alcohol's sexual enhancing function. More attention is needed to FSWs’ vulnerability to the negative influence of occupational drinking.
THE AUTHORS
Yiyun Chen, MSPH, MA, is a PhD student in social psychology at the University of Connecticut. She received master's degrees in public health from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, and in psychology from the University of Connecticut. She is currently a trainee under the NIMH-funded institutional training grant. Her research interests include but are not limited to psychosocial aspects of HIV/AIDS prevention, HIV medication adherence, and HIV-related risk factors such as alcohol and drug use. She has received extensive training in behavioral interventions and has been closely involved in several projects regarding HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and support. Her recent work focuses on multi-level analysis of HIV risk factors in sex work venues as well as HIV medication adherence and food insecurity among people infected with HIV.
Xiaoming Li, PhD, is the professor and director of the Pediatric Prevention Research Center at Wayne State University School of Medicine. He received his doctoral training at the University of Minnesota in the areas of educational psychology and research methodology. Dr. Li's research interests include global health issues related to tobacco smoking, alcohol and other drug use, stigma, mental health, and behavioral prevention intervention of HIV/AIDS. He has been funded by the World AIDS Foundation and NIH to conduct research in China since 2000. His recent work in China includes longitudinal psychosocial needs assessment among children and families affected by HIV/AIDS, culturally appropriate HIV behavioral prevention intervention among rural-to-urban migrant workers, and HIV and alcohol use risk reduction intervention among female sex workers and their clients. He has been also participating in HIV prevention research conducted in other international settings, including Namibia, Vietnam, India, Mexico, and The Bahamas.
Zhiyong Shen, MD, is the director of the Prevention and Control Division of HIV/AIDS under the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. He received his degree in preventative medicine from the Guangxi School of Medicine in 1985, and a master's degree from Guangxi Medical University in 2004. Dr. Shen has long been involved in research related to infectious diseases, HIV, epdemics, and public health. He has published over 30 academic papers as the first author. Dr. Shen is currently involved in five research projects in China and abroad, and has been awarded research-related prizes at the provincial and municipal level for 3 times.
Yuejiao Zhou, MD, is the associate director of the Prevention and Control Division of HIV/AIDS under the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. She has a Master's degree in Preventative Medicine and Public Health. Dr. Zhou has been working on HIV/STD prevention among female sex workers, HIV voluntary counselling, and establishing comprehensive HIV prevention and treatment demonstration zones in China. She has been widely involved in the IX CDC–World Bank Loan Project, the 4th and 5th round of projects funded by Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, and the HIV Prevention Trial Network projects (HPTN033/058). Dr. Zhou has published over 30 research papers, and has extensive experience working with communities.
Zhenzhu Tang, MD, is the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Dr. Tang graduated from the Guangxi School of Medicine in 1985 with a degree in Preventative Medicine. He obtained his master's degree from Guangxi Medical University in 2002. Dr. Tang has been conducting research related to HIV prevention, food security and nutrition, epidemiology, and public health management. He has published over 70 research papers as the first author, and has written two books. Dr. Tang is currently in charge of or involved in seven research projects in China or abroad, and has been awarded 12 research-related prizes at the provincial or municipal level.