OBJECTIVETo monitor the time trend of behaviors change related to HIV/AIDS epidemic and HIV prevalence, and to provide information and basis for comprehensive HIV prevention responses and evaluation of intervention effectiveness among female sex workers in China.

METHODSDuring the year of 2004 to 2008, a series of cross-sectional surveys were conducted among female sex workers in community recruited in both entertainment places and in street, during the defined timeframe, a face-to-face interview was conducted with uniformed questionnaire; while, the venous blood specimen was collected. The sample size was 400 per site per survey.

RESULTSIn 15 continuous national HIV comprehensive surveillance sites among female sex workers from 2004 to 2008, the median of HIV prevalence was 0.0%; Prevalence (median) of syphilis respectively: 0.5%, 1.8%, 1.6%, 1.8% and 1.0%. The median of target subjects who used condom in the last commercial sex was: 81.8%, 80.5%, 84.6%, 87.0% and 88.9% respectively; the median of always used condom in commercial sex during the last month: 65.8%, 59.6%, 60.3%, 59.8% and 73.7%. The median of awareness rate on HIV/AIDS transmission of female sex workers was: 74.3%, 84.1%, 65.2%, 66.0% and 74.3%. The median of target subjects who attended HIV VCT services were: 12.4%, 20.4%, 25.8%, 25.3% and 31.7%. The median of the proportion of female sex workers who reached intervention in last year respectively: 46.4%, 76.1%, 72.1%, 95.0% and 90.8%.

CONCLUSIONCondom use and HIV awareness rate need to enhance further among female sex workers. The proportion of female sex workers who attended VCT and knew their HIV testing result and the proportion of female sex workers who reached intervention in last year both increase. HIV prevalence rate among female sex workers is generally low, but high risk behaviors are still alarming. It is necessary to take more comprehensive and effective prevention measures and intervention.