HIV-Related Risk Factors Associated with Commercial Sex Among Female Migrants in China

Abstract

Data from 633 sexually experienced female migrants were analyzed to examine the sociodemographic and psychosocial factors and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related behaviors associated with involvement in commercial sex. Six percent (40/633) of the participants reported having had sex for money. Compared with women who had not engaged in commercial sex, women who had sold sex were younger, less educated, and more likely to be unmarried. They were more likely to have engaged in HIV-related risk behaviors, such as becoming intoxicated with alcohol and using drugs. Among women who engaged in commercial sex, only 28% of them consistently used condoms during the last three episodes of sexual intercourse. Women who had ever engaged in commercial sex demonstrated greater depressive symptoms than those without such a history (p < .01). Female migrants, especially those engaging in commercial sex, were vulnerable to HIV/sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Sexual risk reduction and condom promotion are urgently needed among this population. Further studies are needed to examine the causal relationship between depression and HIV risk behaviors.

The study is funded by NIMH/NIH (grant number R01MH64878).