Trends of HIV and syphilis infection among female sex workers in Vietnam through HIV sentinel surveillance plus behaviors during the 2015 - 2020 period

Abstract

Cross - sectional studies were conducted through HIV sentinel surveillance plus behaviors to explore trends in HIV and syphilis infection, high - risk behaviors, and access to HIV/AIDS harm reduction services among female sex workers (FSWs) during the 2015 - 2020 period. Results showed that the HIV prevalence among FSWs was relatively low and fluctuated stably from 2.6% - 2.7% - 3.3% - 3.6% - 3.1% in 2015 - 2016 - 2017 - 2018 - 2020, respectively. Similarly, the prevalence of syphilis infection was also low, ranging from 0.7% to 2.6% during this period. The proportions of using condoms (in the last sex, with regular customers, with strangers), and accessing harm reduction services (receiving free condoms, and safe sex counseling) tend to increase over the years but were still not high. In addition, the proportions of being tested for HIV within 12 months and checking for sexually transmitted diseases within 3 months were low, only 39.8% and 34.2% in 2020, respectively. Therefore, intervention programs should consider expanding and diversifying HIV testing models in the community, and increasing the coverage of harm reduction programs to reduce the HIV prevalence among FSWs and towards ending the HIV epidemic in Vietnam by 2030.