Knowledge and Preventive Practices Toward COVID-19 Among Sex Workers in Chiang Mai, Thailand
2025
Sameen Ashfaq | Kriengkrai Srithanaviboonchai | Patumrat Sripan | Arunrat Tangmunkongvorakul | Natthapol Kosashunhanan
Sex workers were disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic due to precarious working conditions. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 among 264 sex workers in Chiang Mai, Thailand, during the transition to the endemic phase, to evaluate their COVID-19 knowledge and preventive practices. Face-to-face interviews were used. Descriptive statistics were used to describe sample characteristics. Factors associated with knowledge and preventive practices were identified using the Mann&ndash:Whitney U test or Kruskal&ndash:Wallis test as appropriate. Independent factors associated with preventive practices were assessed through linear regression. The median scores for knowledge and preventive practices were 10 (interquartile range (IQR) = 9&ndash:10) and 5 (IQR = 3&ndash:5), respectively. In univariate analysis, females scored higher in knowledge than males. For preventive practices, females vs. males, older vs. younger, heterosexual vs. homosexual/bisexual, longer vs. shorter career, worked in massage parlors vs. pubs/bars, and having child vs. none showed higher rates. In multivariate analysis, being male (&beta: = &minus:1.87: 95%CI: &minus:0.87 to &minus:0.88) and single (&beta: = &minus:1.15: 95%CI: &minus:2.28 to &minus:0.02) were independent predictors of lower rates of preventive practices. Despite having good knowledge, certain groups of sex workers&rsquo: COVID-19 preventive behaviors remain inadequate, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to enhance pandemic preparedness.
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