Douching Practices among Female Sex Workers in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Several studies indicate that douching has few benefits but numerous adverse health outcomes, including increased risk for sexually transmitted infections and HIV. No published study explores douching practices among Cambodian female sex workers. 

This report provides preliminary data about the prevalence and frequency of douching among female sex workers in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Survey data were obtained from 81 female sex workers who were taken into custody due to engagement in commercial sex from March to June 2011. 

Results showed that 91% of participants douched. The mean numbers of times douched before sex and after sex per 10 sex episodes were 4.43 (SD = 3.87) and 4.63 (SD = 3.94), respectively. Half of the participants thought that douching could help to prevent sexually transmitted infections including HIV; 24% were unsure about this. 

Usually, douching after sex was associated with ever obtaining an HIV test and was marginally associated (although not statistically significant) with a higher average number of clients per week and consistent condom use with clients. This suggests that these practices may be related to individual perceptions of sexually transmitted infections/HIV risk or susceptibility. 

Given the commonness of douching and related misperceptions among Cambodian female sex workers, future studies and interventions are needed to prevent adverse health problems.

Purchase full article at:  http://goo.gl/NNtdvv

By:  Bui TC1, Tran LT2, Ross MW3, Markham CM3.

• 1Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas - Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA thanh.c.bui@uth.tmc.edu.
• 2Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics & Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas - Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
• 3Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas - Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA. 

More at:  https://twitter.com/hiv_insight

And: http://twitter.com/Prison_Health

Female Streetwalkers' Perspectives on Migration & HIV/STI Risks in a Changing Economic & Social Environment: A Qualitative Study in Shanghai, China

China's 30-year economic boom has created a unique social and economic market for commercial sex, as well as for a workforce of migrant women from rural China. This qualitative study explores the impact of the rapidly changing social and economic environment on migration patterns, knowledge of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), STI risk behaviours and health beliefs among female streetwalkers in Shanghai. 

Qualitative data were collected in 2010 through semi-structured in-depth interviews with 16 streetwalkers to characterise their migration passages, sexual health and behaviours, and peer networks. Many streetwalkers reported histories of childhood impoverishment, of family or partner violence or trauma, of migration consistent with the timeline and routes of economic development and of a scarcity in health, social or economic support. 

Their knowledge of the prevention and treatment of HIV and STIs was limited. They had little bargaining power on condom use and the majority resorted to vaginal douching and self-management with antibiotics as preventative measures. 

The study identifies streetwalkers' perspectives on the changing environment, their options and actions and, finally, HIV/STI risks that were unique to this hidden population.

Purchase full article at: http://goo.gl/F6ERfh

By: Huang ZJ1, Hu D, Chang R, Zaccaro H, Iguchi M, Zheng H, He N.

1a Department of International Health , Georgetown University , Washington , DC , USA

  

More at:  https://twitter.com/hiv_insight

Vaginal Douching & Association with Sexually Transmitted Infections among Female Sex Workers in a Prefecture of Yunnan Province, China

Vaginal douching is a common practice and has been hypothesised to increase a woman's risk for human immunodeficiency virus and sexually transmitted infections. Our objective was to assess the prevalence of douching and association with sexually transmitted infections, genital symptoms and human immunodeficiency virus/sexually transmitted infections knowledge among female sex workers.

We conducted a cross-sectional study of 837 female sex workers with interviews and laboratory tests for human immunodeficiency virus/sexually transmitted infections in a prefecture of Yunnan Province in southern China.

• Vaginal douching was reported by 84% of the women. 
• We found a higher prevalence of vaginal douching practice among female sex workers of Han ethnicity, and who were single or cohabitating. 
• Douching was also significantly more common among more educated female sex workers and those with greater knowledge about human immunodeficiency virus/sexually transmitted infections and with female sex workers who experienced clinical symptoms in previous 12 months. 
• Douching was linked to higher risks of human immunodeficiency virus and herpes simplex virus type 2 infections after adjusting for confounding factors.

Medical professional and public health workers should correct women's misconception about the effectiveness of douching and discourage women from douching through educational activities. More prospective studies among female sex workers are urgently required to identify the relationship between vaginal douching and human immunodeficiency virus/sexually transmitted infections infection.

Via: http://goo.gl/VOgNjj  Purchase full article at: http://goo.gl/lfMXcD

By: Luo L1, Xu JJ2, Wang GX3, Ding GW4, Wang N4, Wang HB5.

• 1Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, PR China.
• 2Key Laboratory of Immunology of AIDS, Ministry of Health, First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China.
• 3Kaiyuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Yunnan, PR China.
• 4National Center for AIDS/STD Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, PR China.
• 5Peking University Clinical Research Institute, Beijing, PR China 

More at:  https://twitter.com/hiv_insight