Objective   To understand the awareness of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) related knowledge and the risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in female sex workers (FSWs) with different local residence time in Jiangsu province.

  Methods   The sentinel surveillance data in FSWs in Jiangsu from 2016 to 2021 were collected for a descriptive analysis based on the local residence duration of the FSWs with statistical software SPSS23.0.

  Results   A total of 66 647 FSWs were surveyed during 2016−2021. The mean age of FSWs was (31.5±8.6) years old. Most FSWs had local residence for more than one year (44.0%), there were significant differences in the age distribution among the three groups (χ²=3393.020, P<0.05). The proportion of FSWs who had local residence for less than 6 months was higher than the other two groups, the differences were significant (χ²=2955.473, P<0.05). The awareness rate of HIV/AIDS related knowledge (93.9%), the rate of consistent condom use in the last month (76.0%) and those receiving AIDS intervention services in the last year in FSWs (94.3%) all showed increasing trends year by year (χ²=380.748, 4879.812, 681.008, all P<0.05). The infection rate of HIV was 0.5‰ and the prevalence of syphilis was 2.2%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age 40–49 years old, non-local resident, lower education level of primary school or below, local residence less than 6 months, drug use, non-consistent use condoms, low and medium grade places, lower awareness of knowledge about HIV/AIDS and lack of access to HIV/AIDS prevention services were relative factors for STDs in FSWs.

  Conclusion  Risk behaviors still existed in some FSWs in Jiangsu, indicating that consistent condom use is needed to promote in this population. It is necessary to take targeted intervention measures in FSWs with short local residence duration to contain the spread of AIDS.