ObjectiveTo investigate the characteristics, relevant knowledge of AIDS, high-risk behavior and current infection of AIDS and syphilis in different levels of prostitution in a community of Shanghai central district and to provide effective reference for comprehensive prevention and control of AIDS in this community.

MethodsThe questionnaire survey was conducted on the basis of one-to-one anonymous methods to collect the demographic and behavioral characteristics of the demimondaines from different grade places in a community of Shanghai central district. In addition, venous blood was extracted for AIDS, syphilis and hepatitis C detection.

ResultsA total of 775 demimondaines were surveyed.The rough awareness rate of knowledge about HIV/AIDS was 95.9%, among them, the awareness rate of knowledge about HIV/AIDS in the high-grade, middle-grade and low-grade places was 95.2%, 97.5% and 97.1% respectively.The condom usage proportion was 63.0% in their commercial sexual behavior in last month.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the main high-risk behavior factors for demimondaines not to consistently use condoms were with those who had not been investigated in the last three years, came from high-grade or middle-grade place, lacked HIV/AIDS knowledge and had not received AIDS intervention services.After controlling the above factors, the risk of not using condoms with demimondaines from high-or middle-grade place in the last one month was 4.61 times (95%CI:2.53-8.39) and 1.75 times (95%CI:1.18-2.59) the risk of sex workers from low-grade place.One case of AIDS was detected during the survey, with a positive rate of 0.1%.Nine cases of syphilis TRUST (toluidine red unheated serum test) were positive, and the positive rate was 1.1%.

ConclusionThe awareness rate of knowledge about HIV/AIDS with demimondaines from this community proves to be good, but the percentage of condom usage needs to be improved.Behavioral intervention should continue to be strengthened.