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Julie Hsieh, BA, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University School of Medicine, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT 06510, 203-435-2331, julie.hsieh@yale.edu, Ming Wang, MD, Fujian Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 76 Jintai Street, Fuzhou, 350001, China, and Kaveh Khoshnood, PhD, Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University, 60 College st, P.O Box 208034, New Haven, CT 06511.
Background: Migrant factory workers play a vital role in the economic development of China; however, little is known regarding their health status and living conditions. The Chinese government estimates that China has about one million HIV cases in 2002. Experts warn that the number could reach 10 million by 2010 unless effective measures are taken to reduce HIV transmission. While much remains unknown about China’s HIV/AIDS epidemic, less is known about the epidemic’s effect on migrant factory workers. This study is designed to assess HIV/AIDS prevention needs among this population in order to implement effective prevention strategies to stop further spread of the disease.
Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was developed to assess socio-demographic characteristics, migratory patterns, HIV/AIDS related knowledge, and sexual behaviors. The surveys were conducted anonymously in a private setting within six factories drawn from a non-random convenience sample in Mawei economic development district of Fuzhou city, Fujian province, China. Factory types included food processing, plastic bottles making, and battery manufacturing. Collected data were entered into Epi info 2002 and analyzed with SAS (v8.2).
Results: A total of 279 factory workers responded to the questionnaire. The education level ranged from first grade to college graduate with an overall low HIV knowledge. Migrant factory workers mainly came from Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan provinces as well as rural areas in Fujian province.
Conclusions: Results may aid in the development and implementation of effective HIV education programs and reduce high risk behaviors that are appropriate for the migrant workers population.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Migrant Workers
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.