Prevalence and Behavioral Correlates of Depression and Anxiety among Male Sex Workers in Vietnam

OBJECTIVES:

This study assessed depression and anxiety symptoms, and their association with high-risk sexual and drug behaviors, among male sex workers in three Vietnamese cities.

METHODS:

Male sex workers ages 16 to 35 completed an interview that included the CES-D to assess depressive symptoms and the BAI to assess anxiety symptoms, as well as questions assessing drug and sexual risk practices.

RESULTS:

A majority of participants reported depressive symptomatology although fewer report symptoms of anxiety. Risky sexual and drug use practices predicted both types of symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS:

Mental distress is associated with drug and sexual risk among male sex workers.

Table 3

Sexual attraction, sexual identity and sexual behaviors by city

	Hanoi	Nha Trang	HCMC	Overall	Significance
Sexual attraction
Exclusively/mostly men	15.7%	22.1%	30.5%	23.4%	x2=38.6, p<.001
Both men and women	49.8%	60.4%	35.7%	46.0%
Exclusively women	34.5%	17.5%	33.8%	30.5%
Sexual identity
Think of myself as a man	68.4%	55.8%	60.3%	62.2%	x2=101.1, p<.001
Think of myself as a woman	5.2%	2.6%	8.9%	6.2%
Think of myself as a transgender person	4.8%	14.9%	3.0%	6.2%
Other	1.2%	1.3%	16.7%	7.9%
Not sure	20.4%	25.3%	11.1%	17.5%
Years since first sex work	1.97	2.50	2.82	2.45	F=6.32, p=.002
Elective male partners
Lifetime	30.8%	52.6%	47.1%	42.5%	x2=23.0, p<.001
Current (past 30 days)	18.0%	35.1%	30.7%	27.2%	x2=17.4, p<.001
Elective female partners
Lifetime	83.2%	81.8%	65.0%	75.1%	x2=29.1, p<.001
Recent (past 90 days)	64.8%	61.0%	43.5%	54.8%	x2=28.4, p<.001
UAI last sex work	28.2%	54.5%	24.8%	32.7%	x2=43.7, p<.001

Table 4

Drug use by city

	Hanoi	Nha Trang	HCMC	Overall	Significance
Current drug use (past 30 days)
Alcohol	82.4%	93.5%	80.4%	83.9%	x2=13.75, p=.001
Tobacco	74.4%	73.4%	70.9%	72.7%	n.s.
Marijuana	12.0%	13.0%	6.9%	10.0%	n.s.
Ecstasy	8.0%	12.3%	15.7%	12.3%	x2=7.56, p=.023
Amphetamines	3.6%	8.4%	32.0%	16.9%	x2=89.18, p<.001
Any illicit drug
Lifetime use	52.0%	59.1%	66.0%	59.6%	x2=11.24, p=.004
Current use (past 30 days)	29.2%	28.6%	40.8%	34.1%	x2=10.97, p=.004

Full article at:   http://goo.gl/3VAZQs

By:   Goldsamt LA1, Clatts MC2, Giang LM3, Yu G1.

• 1New York University College of Nursing, New York, NY.
• 2School of Public Health, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR.
• 3Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam. 

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