Women and Health
Volume 55, Issue 5, 2015, Pages 580-594

Multiple Abortions and Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Young Migrant Women Working in Entertainment Venues in China (Article)

Dong Y. , Zhang H.* , Wang Y. , Tao H. , Xu S. , Xia J. , Huang W. , He H. , Zaller N. , Operario D.
  • a Department of Adolescent Health and Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
  • b Department of Adolescent Health and Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
  • c Luyang District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
  • d Luyang District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
  • e Baohe District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
  • f Baohe District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
  • g Department of Adolescent Health and Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
  • h Department of Adolescent Health and Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
  • i Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States
  • j School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States, School of Public Health, Brown University, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02912, United States

Abstract

We conducted a survey of 358 young migrant women working in entertainment venues in China to explore the prevalence of and factors associated with two indicators of sexual and reproductive health: (1) multiple abortions and (2) the dual risk of sexually transmitted infections (STI) and abortion history. One quarter (25.4 percent) of the women in this sample had multiple abortions during their lifetime and, of those with any abortion history, 18.3 percent had had an abortion outside of a regulated health clinic. One-third (33.0 percent) of the sample had had an STI during the past year, and approximately one-fourth (23.7 percent) of those women did not receive STI treatment in a public hospital. Approximately one-fourth (23.5 percent) of the sample reported both a history of abortion and an STI during the past year. Women with a history of multiple abortions had significantly lower income levels, were more likely to have sex with clients and with husbands, and tended more to use alcohol before sex. Women who experienced both abortion and STI risks were more likely to report having had unprotected sex, genitourinary tract infections symptoms, anxiety, illicit drug use, and suicidal ideation. Enhanced efforts are needed to improve reproductive and sexual health for female migrants in urban China, particularly those working in entertainment venues. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Author Keywords

sexual health China Migrants Women reproductive health

Index Keywords

induced abortion Abortion, Induced China HIV Infections sexual behavior human statistics and numerical data Unsafe Sex Cross-Sectional Studies Sexually Transmitted Diseases Surveys and Questionnaires Young Adult cross-sectional study Humans workplace Adolescent female Socioeconomic Factors risk factor Risk Factors socioeconomics questionnaire prostitution prevalence high risk behavior Risk-Taking adult migration Reproductive Health Sex Work Transients and Migrants employment
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84931573967&doi=10.1080%2f03630242.2015.1022811&partnerID=40&md5=7cc576bc7e699f895beb460a52d14a8c
DOI: 10.1080/03630242.2015.1022811
ISSN: 03630242
Cited by: 4
Original Language: English