Sex work practices and condom use in female sex workers in Sydney

The aim of this study was to determine sex work practices and predictors of condom use among female sex workers (SWs) in Sydney. SWs from two centres completed a self-administered questionnaire covering demographic and sexual characteristics and sex work practices. One hundred and forty-eight international (born in Asia) and 141 local SWs (born in Australia, New Zealand or the UK) were recruited. Local SWs saw more clients per shift than international SWs ( P = 0.002), but international SWs worked more shifts per week than local SWs ( P = 0.001). International SWs used condoms less consistently at work than local SWs ( P = 0.001). About 37% of international SWs never used condoms with non-paying partners, compared with 14% of local SWs ( P = 0.01). Speaking Thai (odds ratio [OR] 8.9, 95% confidence interval [CI]; 3.19–24.87) or Chinese (OR 17.4; 95% CI 4.98–60.89) (both P < 0.001) and previous sex work in Thailand (OR 10.0 95% CI 2.31–43.52; P = 0.02) were associated with inconsistent condom use. Strategies to improve condom use need to be evaluated.

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Stigma, Social Support, and Sexual Behavior Among Female Sex Workers at Risk for HIV in Malawi

AIDS Education and Prevention ◽

10.1521/aeap.2021.33.4.290 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 33 (4) ◽

pp. 290-302

Author(s):

Laura M. Ruegsegger ◽

Melissa Stockton ◽

Vivian F. Go ◽

Hannah Piscalko ◽

Dylane Davis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Substance Use ◽

Hiv Prevention ◽

Condom Use ◽

Sex Work ◽

Sex Workers ◽

Female Sex Workers ◽

Inconsistent Condom ◽

Female Sex ◽

Inconsistent Condom Use

Lack of social support and sex work stigma may hinder STI/HIV prevention for female sex workers (FSW). We explored the associations between sex work stigma and social support with sexual behaviors in Malawi. In 2017, 150 HIV-negative, venue-based FSW completed a behavioral survey containing sex work stigma items and social support. Linear binomial regression models were used to estimate prevalence differences of inconsistent condom use and substance use before sex by social support and stigma. A majority (93%) reported sex work–related internalized stigma. About 50% reported family or friend isolation. Social support was high (mean index: 86.53). Inconsistent condom use and substance use before sex had little to no association with stigma and social support. Malawian FSW largely internalize stigma and experience isolation from family and friends yet have high levels of social support. Large-scale evaluations should investigate the role of stigma and social support in STI/HIV prevention for FSW.

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Early sex work initiation and its association with condomless sex and sexually transmitted infections among female sex workers in Iran

International Journal of STD & AIDS ◽

10.1177/0956462420913431 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 31 (7) ◽

pp. 671-679

Author(s):

Mehrdad Khezri ◽

Mostafa Shokoohi ◽

Ali Mirzazadeh ◽

Mohammad Karamouzian ◽

Hamid Sharifi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Condom Use ◽

Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽

Sex Work ◽

Sex Workers ◽

Female Sex Workers ◽

Sexual Debut ◽

Inconsistent Condom ◽

Sexually Transmitted ◽

Condomless Sex ◽

Female Sex

Early sex work initiation among female sex workers (FSWs) increases their vulnerabilities to high-risk sexual practices and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). We examined the association of early sex work with condomless sex indicators, HIV, and other STIs, including human papillomavirus, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, syphilis, and gonorrhea, among FSWs in Iran. We recruited 1347 FSWs from 13 cities in 2015, with 1296 participants (94.2%) reporting information about their age of sex work initiation. Early sex work was defined as the initiation of selling sex before 18 years of age. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported using multivariable logistic regression. Overall, 10.1% of FSWs reported early sex work initiation. FSWs who initiated sex work earlier were more likely to report last-month inconsistent condom use (aOR = 3.31, 95% CI: 1.82, 6.02) and condomless sex with last client (aOR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.15, 2.56). There was no statistically significant association between early sex work and HIV (aOR = 1.40, 95% CI: 0.43, 4.53) and any other STIs (aOR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.69, 1.48), except for chlamydia (aOR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.08, 4.04). These findings suggest that FSWs with early sexual debut would benefit from differentiated interventions including screening for STIs and enhanced counseling for condom use.

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Early sex work initiation and condom use among alcohol-using female sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya: a cross-sectional analysis

Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽

10.1136/sextrans-2016-052549 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 92 (8) ◽

pp. 593-598 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Angela M Parcesepe ◽

Kelly L L'Engle ◽

Sandra L Martin ◽

Sherri Green ◽

Chirayath Suchindran ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Condom Use ◽

Sex Work ◽

Sex Workers ◽

Female Sex Workers ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Female Sex ◽

Cross Sectional Analysis ◽

Sectional Analysis

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O23.2 Correlates of Inconsistent Condom Use During Anal Sex with Female Sex Workers (FSWs) Among Male Clients: Survey Findings from Three High Prevalence States of India

Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽

10.1136/sextrans-2013-051184.0217 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 89 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. A71.2-A71

Author(s):

S Ramanathan ◽

L Ramakrishnan ◽

P Goswami ◽

D Yadav ◽

B George ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Condom Use ◽

Sex Workers ◽

Female Sex Workers ◽

Anal Sex ◽

Inconsistent Condom ◽

Female Sex ◽

Male Clients ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Inconsistent Condom Use

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Prevalence and correlates of inconsistent condom use among female sex workers in Armenia

Sexual Health ◽

10.1071/sh10139 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 259 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Karine Markosyan ◽

Delia L. Lang ◽

Nelli Darbinyan ◽

Ralph J. DiClemente ◽

Laura F. Salazar

Keyword(s):

Condom Use ◽

Sex Workers ◽

Female Sex Workers ◽

Inconsistent Condom ◽

Female Sex ◽

Inconsistent Condom Use

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Systematic Differences in HIV, Syphilis and Risk Behaviors among Street Based and Establishment Based Female Sex Workers in Kathmandu Valley of Nepal

Nepal Journal of Epidemiology ◽

10.3126/nje.v6i4.17256 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 620-630

Author(s):

Sampurna Kakchapati ◽

Tarun Paudel ◽

Manju Maharjan ◽

Apiradee Lim

Keyword(s):

Risk Behaviors ◽

Sex Work ◽

Sex Workers ◽

Female Sex Workers ◽

Cluster Sampling ◽

Kathmandu Valley ◽

Inconsistent Condom ◽

Hiv Intervention ◽

Female Sex ◽

Hiv Test

Background: Female Sex Workers (FSWs) are main drivers of the HIV epidemic in Nepal. The work environment of sex work in Nepal is differentiated into establishment based (e.g. massage parlors, dance restaurants, hotels and lodges) and street based (e.g. streets, parks and markets). The study compares HIV, syphilis and risk behaviours among establishment-based FSWs and street-based FSWs in Kathmandu Valley of Nepal.Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional bio-behavioral surveys in 2006, 2008, 2011 and 2015 aimed to sample 2093 FSWs using two stage cluster sampling in the Kathmandu valley. Statistical analysis used chi-squared tests and logistic regression models to assess differences of HIV, syphilis and risk behaviors among street-based FSWs and establishment-based FSWs.Results: The study included 39.7% street-based FSWs and 60.3% establishment-based FSWs. The street-based FSWs had lower education levels, older age groups, separated, longer duration of sex work and inconsistent condom used with clients than establishment-based FSWs (p<0.05). Establishment-based FSWs were lower exposure to HIV intervention programs and pervasive alcohol consumption and use of drugs (p<0.05). The multivariate analysis showed that street-based FSWs were more likely of HIV test (aOR=1.25, 95%CI=1.04, 1.49), HIV (aOR=4.72, 95%CI=2.19, 10.15) and syphilis (aOR=7.96, 95%CI=3.49, 18.15) than establishment-based FSWs.Conclusion: Street-based FSWs possessed higher risk behaviour and have higher HIV and syphilis prevalence. HIV prevention interventions targeting FSWs should consider risks and vulnerability of street-based FSWs.

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