Assessment of Female Sex Work in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Women’s Health in Ho Chi Minh City Project (1/11/2004 – 30/9/2006)
Implemented by Ho Chi Minh City AIDS Committee with technical and financial support from Family Health International (FHI)
Assessment of Female Sex Work in Ho Chi Minh City
Submitted to Family Health International, Hanoi
by
Nguyen Nguyen Nhu Trang
Hang Thi Xuan Lan
April 2005 Acknowledgements
This assessment was conducted with invaluable support from the collaborators of Quality of Life Promotion (Life) Centre and FHI/HCMCAIDS Project staff and under the thorough guidance of Dr Luu Thanh Tue from FHI. Dr Truong Trong Hoang from the HCMC Health Information, Education and Communication (HIEC) Center provided insightful advice from a sociologist’s perspective. The assessment also received valuable input from Dr Dang Thi Nhat Vinh from the HCMC AIDS Committee and Ms Nguyen Ngoc Hanh, Vice Chairwoman of the HCMC Women’s Union. Interviews of the target group and key informants were arranged by Ms Le Dinh Hoang Phuc, the Project liaison officer and Ms Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hanh, Women’s Union staff and Director of Anh Duong Centre as well as the peer educators. Special thanks to the women who gave their time and stories in our discussions. Table of Contents
Executive Summary 4
Chapter 1: An Up-to-date Overview of Female Sex Work in Ho Chi Minh City 7
Chapter 2: Research Overview 10
2.1 Research Objectives 10
2.2 Research locations 10
2.3 Research Duration 10
2.4 Research Methods 10
2.4.1 Research Sample 10
2.4.2 Sampling method 11
2.4.3 Data collection instruments 11
2.4.4 Data analysis method 12
2.4.5 Ethical considerations 12
2.5 Research Team 12
2.6 Limitations of the Research 12
Chapter 3: Findings 13
3.1 Social, cultural and economic characteristics 13
3.1.1 Social characteristics 13
3.1.2 Educational and cultural characteristics 13
3.1.3 Economic characteristics 14
3.2 Situation and scope of work of FSWs 15
3.2.1 Categories of FSWs 15
3.2.2 Areas and
Implemented by Ho Chi Minh City AIDS Committee with technical and financial support from Family Health International (FHI)
Assessment of Female Sex Work in Ho Chi Minh City
Submitted to Family Health International, Hanoi
by
Nguyen Nguyen Nhu Trang
Hang Thi Xuan Lan
April 2005 Acknowledgements
This assessment was conducted with invaluable support from the collaborators of Quality of Life Promotion (Life) Centre and FHI/HCMCAIDS Project staff and under the thorough guidance of Dr Luu Thanh Tue from FHI. Dr Truong Trong Hoang from the HCMC Health Information, Education and Communication (HIEC) Center provided insightful advice from a sociologist’s perspective. The assessment also received valuable input from Dr Dang Thi Nhat Vinh from the HCMC AIDS Committee and Ms Nguyen Ngoc Hanh, Vice Chairwoman of the HCMC Women’s Union. Interviews of the target group and key informants were arranged by Ms Le Dinh Hoang Phuc, the Project liaison officer and Ms Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hanh, Women’s Union staff and Director of Anh Duong Centre as well as the peer educators. Special thanks to the women who gave their time and stories in our discussions. Table of Contents
Executive Summary 4
Chapter 1: An Up-to-date Overview of Female Sex Work in Ho Chi Minh City 7
Chapter 2: Research Overview 10
2.1 Research Objectives 10
2.2 Research locations 10
2.3 Research Duration 10
2.4 Research Methods 10
2.4.1 Research Sample 10
2.4.2 Sampling method 11
2.4.3 Data collection instruments 11
2.4.4 Data analysis method 12
2.4.5 Ethical considerations 12
2.5 Research Team 12
2.6 Limitations of the Research 12
Chapter 3: Findings 13
3.1 Social, cultural and economic characteristics 13
3.1.1 Social characteristics 13
3.1.2 Educational and cultural characteristics 13
3.1.3 Economic characteristics 14
3.2 Situation and scope of work of FSWs 15
3.2.1 Categories of FSWs 15
3.2.2 Areas and
References: Elmer, Laurel (2001). HIV/AIDS Intervention Data on Commercial Sex Workers in Vietnam. Hanoi: National AIDS Standing Bureau. Giang, Le Truong (2001). Facing AIDS in Ten Years 1990 – 2000 – Annual Report. Ho Chi Minh City AIDS Committee. Hanh Le Thi; Marise St Pierre, Trang, Nguyen Nguyen Nhu (1999). Preliminary Results of Sex Workers Research. Vietnam: CARE International and CARAM Asia. Hong, Khuat Thu (1997). Study of Sexuality in Vietnam: The Known and Unknown Issues. Institute of Sociology in cooperation with the Population Council, Hanoi. Starink, Markus and de Bruin, Liselotte (2001). Mobility and Vulnerability: An Explorative Study among Female Sex Workers in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Vietnam: Mobility Research and Support Centre. Trang Vu. 2001. Harm reduction for injecting drug users in Vietnam – A situation assessment. Victoria Public Health Training Scheme. Vinh, Dang Thi Nhat (2004). HIV Preventive Behavior of Street Sex Workers in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Masters Thesis. Thailand: Mahidol University.