Correlation Between Social Support and HPV Vaccination Behavior of Female Sex Workers in Entertainment Venues in a Region of Guangxi, China

Objective: To understand the current situation for social support and HPV vaccination behavior of female sex workers (FSWs) in entertainment venues and to explore the association between the support and HPV vaccination behavior.
Methods: 923 FSWs in entertainment venues in a region of Guangxi were selected as survey respondents by using intentional sampling and employing a self-developed basic information questionnaire. The social support rating and the HPV vaccination behavior scales were analyzed to determine the current status of support and HPV vaccination behavior of FSWs in entertainment venues. In addition, the correlations between these parameters were analyzed.
Results: The total score of social support of FSWs in entertainment venues was 35.13± 8.10, and the score for HPV vaccination behavior was 30.08± 5.73. There were significant differences between these two parameters for FSWs of different ages, monthly incomes and working hours (P < 0.05). Objective, subjective and social support were positively correlated with all dimensions of HPV vaccination behavior (r = 0.212~0.236, 0.245~0.334 and 0.113~0.152, respectively; P < 0.01 in all cases). Typical correlation analysis yielded a correlation between these three dimensions of social support as well as with two dimensions of HPV vaccination behavior (self-decision-making and self-efficacy) (r = 0.373; P < 0.01).
Conclusion: Social support and HPV vaccination behavior of FSWs in entertainment venues initially low. However, as social support for FSWs was increased, their behavior towards HPV vaccination was elevated. Both subjective and objective support helped FSWs in entertainment venues their behavior to HPV vaccination and to maintain their physical and mental health.

Keywords: female sex workers, social support, HPV vaccination, inoculation behavior, knowledge of HPV