Herpes simplex virus type 2 risks in female sex workers in the China-Vietnam border county of Hekou.

OBJECTIVE

To survey the prevalence and risk factors of HSV-2 among Chinese and Vietnamese female sex workers (FSW) in the border county of Hekou, Yunnan Province, China.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted on demographics, sexual behavior, medical history, and drug use among FSWs. Laboratory samples were obtained to test for HSV-2 and other STIs such as HIV, Syphilis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Bacterial vaginosis, and Yeast infections. Cervicitis and genital warts were also diagnosed.

RESULTS

Of the 345 FSWs who participated in this study, 112 (32.5%) were ethnic Chinese and 233 (67.5) were Vietnamese. Among FSWs in Hekou, the prevalence rates were 58.3% for HSV-2, 5.5% for HIV, and 4.1% for bacterial vaginosis (BV). Age<21 (OR: 0.5; 95% CI: 0.3, 0.8), duration of commercial sex work≤3 months (OR: 0.5; 95% CI: 0.3, 0.8), oral and vaginal sex with the last client (as opposed to only vaginal sex) (OR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.0, 2.7), HIV (OR: 11.4; 95% CI: 1.5, 87.2), and bacterial vaginosis (BV) (OR: 5.6; 95% CI: 1.2, 26.9) were significantly correlated with HSV-2 infection.

CONCLUSION

Multivariate analysis showed that several factors were significantly correlated with the high prevalence of HSV-2 in FSWs in the border area between China and Vietnam. Further studies and interventions are needed for HSV-2 epidemiology in the border area.