This qualitative study assessed HIV knowledge and frequency of and influences on condom use with clients and regular, non-client partners among female sex workers (FSWs) in Khanh Hoa, a tourist-oriented province of centre Vietnam where sex work is common. Methods: Data was selected via semi-structured interviews with indirect (n=16) and direct (n=9) FSWs. Results: Although the majority of respondents were well informed about HIV/AIDS transmission, about one-third had inaccurate beliefs about HIV-positve people as well as the mechanisms by which HIV is transmitted from mother to child. Condom use was inconsistent. More direct than indirect FSWs reported using condoms most of the time with clients but none used condoms all the time. With regular partners, most respondents reported that they never used condoms. Around one-third of women hid their sex work from their regular partners, who made the decision to use or not to use condoms. The most frequently reported reasons for not using condom with clients were because clients offered a higher price, clients insisted on condom-free sex, and possession of condoms as evidence of sex worker status. For regular partners, the reasons were familiarity, condom use being dependent on partner’s decision, and condom use as evidence of sex worker status. There was no apparent relationship between HIV knowledge, time in sex work, and safe sex pratices. Conclusions: Recommendations are made to improve the rate of condom use among FSWs.

The authors: Doreen Rosenthal – University of Melbourne

Trần Thị Kim Oanh – Khanh Hoa Health Department

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