The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) is funding a $2.6 million study to research alcohol abuse among female sex workers in China, Fox News reports. The study will measure the link between alcohol abuse and risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

According to the article, researchers will visit 100 brothels and collect data on 700 sex workers and 150 pimps and madams. The study’s director said this information will be used to tailor HIV prevention programs for this population.

The United Nations estimates that about 700,000 people are living with HIV in China.