OBJECTIVETo explore the prevalence of syphilis and HSV-2 among female sex workers (FSWs) who use new types of drugs in Jiaozhou city.

METHODSThrough convenient sampling, an anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted among female sex workers to collect demographic characteristics, new-type drugs abusing characteristics and related sexual behaviors from October to December, 2013. Blood specimens were drawn for serological tests of syphilis antibody and HSV-2 antibody. Urine specimens of the subjects surveyed were collected to test for methamphetamine. Differences in demographic characteristics, new-type drug abusing characteristics, and sexual behaviours between drug-abusing FSWs and non-drug-abusing FSWs were compared by t-test and χ(2)-test.

RESULTSA total of 460 FSWs were recruited in this study, and 105 FSWs admitted their drug abuse history. Among the 341 urine specimens confirmed to be methamphetamine positive, there were 3 FSWs claimed that they never abuse new-type drugs. The rate of new-type drug abuse was 23.5% (108/460). A total of 71.4% (75/105) of the new drug-abusing FSWs started using drugs under 25 years old. The main reasons for drug abuse were clients request (24, 22.9%), making more money (23, 21.9%) and companion temptations (22, 21.0%). Totally, 41.9% of them (44/105) took drugs with 4-5 persons, 32.4% (34/105) had sex with 2-3 men after taking drugs, and 60.2% of new-type drug-abusing FSWs (65/108) used condoms in the latest commercial intercourse, while only 7.4% FSWs (8/108) used condoms every time during their commercial sex activities in the recent month. Compared with FSWs having no drug abuse behavior, drug-abusing FSWs had higher single proportion (73.2% (79/108) vs 63.6% (224/352), χ(2) = 8.64, P < 0.05), lower condom use rate in the recent month (7.4% (8/108) vs 22.7% (80/352), χ(2) = 12.53, P < 0.01) and higher pregnancy rate in the recent 6 months (24.1% (26/108) vs 8.8% (31/352), χ(2) = 17.74, P < 0.01) and most of them come from the middle and high-level entertainmens (78.7% (85/108) vs 65.1% (229/352), χ(2) = 13.09, P < 0.01). Among the new-type drug-abusing FSWs, the prevalence rates of syphilis and HSV-2 were 12.0% (13/108) and 55.6% (60/108) , respectively. A total of 33 FSWs claimed that they were diagnosed with STDs in the recent year (30.6%) . The rates of syphilis(12.0% (13/108) vs 4.0% (14/352), χ(2) = 9.72, P < 0.01), HSV-2(55.6% (60/108) vs 39.2% (138/352), χ(2) = 9.01, P < 0.01) and diagnosed STDs (30.6% (33/108) vs 17.9% (63/352), χ(2) = 8.02, P < 0.01) among the drug-abusing FSWs were significantly higher than those of non-drug-abusing FSWs.

CONCLUSIONThere is a higher proportion of new-type drug abuse among the FSWs in Jiaozhou, with significantly higher prevalence rates of syphilis and HSV-2 infection, compared with non-new types of drug abusing FSWs. Prevalent risk sexual behaviors and ignorance of new-types drugs' harm were seen among them.