| Objectives To determine the feasibility and effectiveness of the intervention on STDs/AIDS via peer network in terms of increasing knowledge related to STDs/AIDS, skills of refusing sex behaviors and risk sex behaviors, and the utilization of legal health services among migrant females working in restaurants in Hefei and Bengbu, Anhu Province.Methods Totally, 26 restaurants, 12 in Hefei and 14 in Bengbu, were selected as study sites. The unmarried females, who worked in restaurants and moved from the rural to the cities, were recruited to be participants by convenience sampling. After informed consent, 355 of 421 eligible female participated in the study and anonymously completed the questionnaire including sex behaviors and condom use, knowledge related to STDs/AIDS, self-efficacy of sex and self-efficacy of condom use, social capital, social network, depressive symptoms. Additionally, 5ml blood specimen of each voluntary participant was collected for HIV anti-body test and syphilis anti-body tests.Based on the baseline survey above, the intervention via peer network was conducted among participants. Of participants, 48 peer health educators (23 peer educators were from Hefei, and 25 peer educators were from Bengbu, respectively) were recommended by participants. 355 participants took the intervention sessions (of them, 153 from Hefei accounting for 43.1%, 202 from Bengbu accounting for 56.9%). Participants were divided into 48 groups, 6-8 in each. The peer health educator of each group was in charge of the intervention of the group. Peer health educators were trained with four intervention sessions including knowledge and prevention related to STDs/AIDS, the skills of delaying or avoiding pre-married sex, skills of safe sex, and utilizing legal health services. Intervention sessions were conducted in every two weeks, and they shared what they learnt from the intervention sessions with peers in their groups. Assessment was conducted during three throug four weeks after intervention. Effectiveness of the intervention was determined by comparing baseline data with assessment data on knowledge related to STDs/AIDS, sex behaviors and condom use, and utilization of legal health services. EpiData 3.0 software was used to establish the database and input the data. T-test, Chi-Square test and logistic regression analysis were applied with SPSS software to determine risky factors of sexual behaviors and risky sexual behaviors.Results Totally 355 participants aged from 16 to 31 years old with average age of (21.53±3.93)years old finished the baseline survey. The rate of sexual behaviors and risky sexual behaviors of report were 40.8% (145/355) and 29.9% (106/355), respectively. The youngest of onset of sex was 12 years old. The percentages of having risky sexual behaviors and having more than one sexual partner among participants who reported having sex were 73.1% (106/145) and 22.8% (33/145), respectively. Logistic Regression Analysis showed that participants who aged 21 to 25 years old and more than 25 years old would have more risk of sexual behaviors(OR=3.370, 7.591) and have more risk of risky sexual behaviors(OR=2.263, 4.2123) compared to ones who aged from 16 to 20 years old. Self-efficacy of safe sex and exclusion were protective factors of sex behaviors and risk sex behaviors (OR=0.942, 0.938; OR=0.799, 0.903). Size of social network from 8 to 15 would have more risk of sex behaviors than that less than or equal to 3 (OR=0.465). Participants who worked in restaurants in Bengbu would have more risk of risky sexual behaviors than those worked in restaurants in Hefei (OR=2.112). Of 355 participants, 319 ones took part in the assessment survey. Analysis showed that The average scores of knowledge related to STDs/AIDS and self-efficacy of condom use increased after the intervention (pre-intervention:13.87±6.27, 11.61±4.19; post-intervention:23.38±4.97, 12.87±4.25; P<0.01). The rates of condom use in every intercourse increased in last two months, last time and last three times after intervention (pre-intervention:26.9%, 46.9%, 27.0%; post-intervention:53.7%, 63.4%, 41.4%; P<0.05). The intervention improved rates of HIV counselling and testing, respectively (pre-intervention:4.1%,6.8%; post-intervention:19.4%, 28.5%; P<0.01).Conclusions The intervention based-on peer network among migrant unmarried females working in restaurants was feasible and effective which increased the rate of consistent condom use, knowledge related to STDs/AIDS and the utilization of legal health services. |
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