Information on the thesis "The Gap Between Perception and Behavior: An Analysis of Condom Use Among Sex Workers (Through Analysis of Original Data from the HIV Prevention Project in 7 Provinces/Cities of Vietnam)" by graduate student Nguyen Kim Oanh, majoring in Sociology.1. Student's Full Name: Nguyen Kim Oanh 2. Gender: Female 3. Date of Birth: November 5, 1983 4. Place of Birth: Ung Hoa, Hanoi 5. Decision No. 2551/2007/QD-XHNV-KH&SDH dated November 2, 2007, of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, recognizing the student. 6. Changes during the training process: None 7. Thesis Title: The Gap Between Perception and Behavior: An Analysis of Condom Use Among Female Sex Workers (Analysis of Original Data from the HIV Prevention Project in 7 Provinces/Cities of Vietnam) 8. Specialization: Sociology; Code: 60.31.30 9. Scientific Advisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Ba Thinh – Faculty of Sociology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities 10. Summary of thesis results: The HIV/AIDS pandemic has truly become a threat to all of humanity. To date, humanity has been confronting HIV/AIDS for three decades. Vietnam is one of many countries in Southeast Asia with a strong HIV epidemic. The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Vietnam is still concentrated among high-risk groups such as injecting drug users and female sex workers. This is a special "bridge" group that can make the spread of HIV to the community faster through sexual relations with clients. According to researchers, using condoms correctly is the most effective strategy to prevent the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. However, while the condom use rate among female sex workers has increased in recent years, it remains at only 50-56%. Therefore, studying the awareness and behavior of this group regarding condom use for HIV/AIDS prevention is crucial in order to develop measures to improve their awareness and condom use. Based on some of the original data obtained from the survey "Final Evaluation of the HIV Infection Prevention Project in 7 Provinces/Cities of Vietnam" conducted by the Department of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control - Ministry of Health, the author analyzed the disparity between awareness and behavior regarding condom use among female sex workers during their most recent sexual encounters, over the past month, and over the past six months. This disparity was analyzed by examining the correlation between awareness and behavior regarding condom use among female sex workers. The results show that there is a certain discrepancy between the awareness and behavior of female sex workers regarding condom use. Compared to the group of female sex workers with correct knowledge, the risk of not using condoms at the past 1 month and 6 months was statistically significantly higher among those with incorrect knowledge. In addition, despite having good knowledge, 10-20% of female sex workers still exhibited undesirable behavior. Many factors hinder condom use among female sex workers, such as misconceptions about HIV/AIDS transmission, limited awareness of their own and their clients' HIV risk, client-related factors, lack of persuasive skills among female sex workers, fear of losing a partner, or unavailability of condoms. Based on the analysis results, the study also offers recommendations to increase awareness of condom use among female sex workers.
INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS
1. Full name : Nguyen Kim Oanh Sex: female 3. Date of birth: November 5, 1983 4. Place of birth: Unghoa, Hanoi 5. Admission decision number: 2551/2007/QD-XHNV-KH Dated on November 2nd 2007 by the Headmaster of Hanoi National University of Humanity and Social Sciences. 6. Changes in academic process: no change 7. Official thesis title: Disparity between knowledge and behavior: A analysis in condom use among female sex workers (through analysis of original data on the HIV prevention project in seven provinces/cities of Vietnam) 8. Major: Sociology 9. Code: 60.31.30 10. Supervisors: Assoc. Prof. Hoang Ba Thinh, Ph.D, Sociology Faculty - College of Social Sciences and Humanities. 11. Summary of the findings of the thesis: The HIV/AIDS has really become a threat to all humanity. Up to now, mankind has been dealing with HIV/AIDS for three decades. Vietnam is one of several countries of Southeast Asia with developed HIV pandemic. The HIV/AIDS in Vietnam is still concentrated in high-risk subjects are injecting drug users and female sex workers (FSWs). This is a special "bridging" group that can make the spread of HIV to the general population become faster through having sex with clients. According to the researchers, the proper use of condoms is the most effective strategy to prevent the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. However, the fact that the rate of condom use when having sex among FSWs in recent years has increased but still stopped at 50-56%. Therefore, the study of knowledge and behavior of FSWs on use condoms for HIV/AIDS prevention is a critical issue so that there are measures to raise awareness and awareness of condom use among FSWs. Based on part of original data obtained from the survey "Final evaluation of HIV prevention project in seven provinces/cities of Vietnam" implemented by the Vietnam Administration of HIV/AIDS Control, author of the thesis analyzes the disparity between knowledge and behavior of FSWs on condom use during sexual encounters in the most recent, in one last month and last 6 months. The disparity is analyzed by considering the relationship between knowledge and behavior of FSWs on condom use. The result shows that: there was a certain difference between knowledge and behavior of FSWs on condom use. Compared with women sex workers with correct knowledge, the risk of not using condoms at the time of one last month and last 6 months in FSWs with wrong knowledge was significantly higher. In addition, although having good knowledge but still 10-20% of FSWs had unexpected behavior. There were many factors that hindered condom use behavior of FSWs such as misconceptions about HIV/AIDS, limited awareness of their own risk of HIV infection and clients, causes from the client side, lack of skills to persuade clients, fear of losing lover or regular partners, or condoms were not available ... Based on the results of the analysis, the thesis also makesrecommendations to increase condom use consciousness amongs FSWs.
