HIV Knowledge Among Cisgender Female Sex Workers of Haitian Descent Working at the Border of Haiti and Dominican Republic

In this brief report, we aim to assess levels of HIV mis-information among cisgender Haitian female sex workers engaged in sex work at the Haiti and Dominican Republic border. We conducted bivariate analyses on the 2014 Border Study on Sex Workers comparing responses from female sex workers on the Haiti side of the border to those from their peers on the Dominican Republic side (N = 212). Prevention of HIV acquisition by correct and consistent condom use with each sex act was correctly endorsed by 90.5% of female sex workers in Haiti but only 57.0% of their peers in Dominican Republic (χ2 = 32.28, p < 0.001); 84.1% of respondents in Haiti correctly identified that HIV can be transmitted through a single unprotected sexual act, compared to 52.3% in Dominican Republic (χ2 = 25.2, p < 0.001). Significantly higher percentages of female sex workers in Dominican Republic correctly responded that HIV can be transmitted in pregnancy, compared to respondents in Haiti (96.5 vs. 71.4%; χ2 = 21.42, p < 0.001). Higher percentages of respondents in Dominican Republic correctly answered that HIV can be transmitted through needle sharing, relative to respondents in Haiti (100.0 vs. 89.7%; χ2 = 9.45, p < 0.01). Respondents in Dominican Republic more accurately rejected the possibility of transmission through food or through mosquito bites, compared to respondents in Haiti (95.4 vs. 81.8%, χ2 = 8.51, p < 0.01; 97.7 vs. 86.5%, χ2 = 7.81, p < 0.01, respectively). Findings indicate that if HIV knowledge is examined aggregating responses to individual questions, then elements of misinformation may remain unaddressed. For example, we found significant differences in correct answers ranging from 16.7 to 100.0%.

Download Full-text

Faculty Opinions recommendation of The role of relationship intimacy in consistent condom use among female sex workers and their regular paying partners in the Dominican Republic.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.1050409.502317 ◽

2006 ◽

Author(s):

Elizabeth Ngugi

Keyword(s):

Dominican Republic ◽

Condom Use ◽

Sex Workers ◽

Female Sex Workers ◽

Consistent Condom ◽

Consistent Condom Use ◽

Female Sex ◽

Relationship Intimacy

Download Full-text

HIV Stigma Mediates the Association Between Social Cohesion and Consistent Condom Use Among Female Sex Workers Living with HIV in the Dominican Republic

Archives of Sexual Behavior ◽

10.1007/s10508-018-1186-7 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 47 (5) ◽

pp. 1529-1539 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Maria Augusta Carrasco ◽

Trang Q. Nguyen ◽

Clare Barrington ◽

Martha Perez ◽

Yeycy Donastorg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dominican Republic ◽

Condom Use ◽

Social Cohesion ◽

Sex Workers ◽

Female Sex Workers ◽

Hiv Stigma ◽

Consistent Condom ◽

Consistent Condom Use ◽

Female Sex ◽

Living With Hiv

Download Full-text

Environmental-structural factors significantly associated with consistent condom use among female sex workers in the Dominican Republic

AIDS ◽

10.1097/00002030-200302140-00016 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 17 (3) ◽

pp. 415-423 ◽

Cited By ~ 139

Author(s):

Deanna Kerrigan ◽

Jonathan M Ellen ◽

Luis Moreno ◽

Santo Rosario ◽

Joanne Katz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dominican Republic ◽

Condom Use ◽

Sex Workers ◽

Female Sex Workers ◽

Consistent Condom ◽

Structural Factors ◽

Consistent Condom Use ◽

Female Sex

Download Full-text

Sexual risk behaviors and practices of female sex workers in Rwanda in over a decade, 2006–2015

International Journal of STD & AIDS ◽

10.1177/0956462418785297 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 29 (13) ◽

pp. 1316-1323 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mwumvaneza Mutagoma ◽

Laetitia Nyirazinyoye ◽

Dieudonné Sebuhoro ◽

David J Riedel ◽

Joseph Ntaganira

Keyword(s):

Condom Use ◽

Sex Workers ◽

Female Sex Workers ◽

Consistent Condom ◽

Hiv Knowledge ◽

Consistent Condom Use ◽

Chi Square ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Female Sex

Female sex workers (FSWs) are at high risk for HIV. Cross-sectional surveys using a venue–day–time approach for recruitment were conducted among FSWs in Rwanda in 2006, 2010 and 2015. Chi square test for trends was computed to determine behavior changes. Logistic regression models were computed to determine risk factors associated with consistent condom use for the 2015 survey. There were 1041, 1338, and 1978 FSWs surveyed in 2006, 2010, and 2015, respectively. Condom use at the last sexual encounter with a client was similar in all surveys: 84.2%, 64.1%, and 83.3% (p = 1.0), respectively. Comprehensive HIV knowledge among FSWs was higher in 2015 than in 2006: 18.4%, 53.1%, and 71.1% (p = 0.00), respectively. Living in Kigali City and the Western province (aOR = 1.9 [95% CI: 1.3–2.8] and aOR = 2.0 [95% CI: 1.4–2.9], respectively) and higher level of education (OR = 2.0 [95% CI: 1.4–2.9]) were positively associated with consistent condom use with a client. Street-based FSWs (aOR = 0.7 [95% CI: 0.6–0.9]); FSWs with sex work as sole occupation (aOR = 0.6 [95% CI: 0.5–0.7]); FSWs who experienced sexually transmitted infections in the last year (aOR = 0.7 [95% CI: 0.5–0.8]) and HIV-positive FSWs (aOR = 0.8 [95% CI: 0.6–0.9]) were less likely to report consistent condom use. HIV prevention methods have evolved among FSWs in RWanda over the last decade, but HIV prevalence remains high. Condom use among many FSWs is inconsistent. New approaches for behavior change and income-generating activities are needed to reduce the vulnerability of FSWs in Rwanda.

Download Full-text

The Role of Relationship Intimacy in Consistent Condom Use Among Female Sex Workers and Their Regular Paying Partners in the Dominican Republic

AIDS and Behavior ◽

10.1007/s10461-006-9184-5 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 463-470 ◽

Cited By ~ 74

Author(s):

Laura Murray ◽

Luis Moreno ◽

Santo Rosario ◽

Jonathan Ellen ◽

Michael Sweat ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dominican Republic ◽

Condom Use ◽

Sex Workers ◽

Female Sex Workers ◽

Consistent Condom ◽

Consistent Condom Use ◽

Female Sex ◽

Relationship Intimacy

Download Full-text

To See the Efficacy of Behavioral Interventions on Consistent Condom Use Among Female Sex Workers in Lahore, Pakistan

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.2441684 ◽

2014 ◽

Author(s):

Mahmooda Aftab

Keyword(s):

Condom Use ◽

Sex Workers ◽

Behavioral Interventions ◽

Female Sex Workers ◽

Consistent Condom ◽

Consistent Condom Use ◽

Female Sex

Download Full-text

Cross-sectional survey of Chinese-speaking and Thai-speaking female sex workers in Sydney, Australia: factors associated with consistent condom use

Sexual Health ◽

10.1071/sh17205 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (5) ◽

pp. 389 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Rosalind Foster ◽

Lynne McCormack ◽

Caroline Thng ◽

Handan Wand ◽

Anna McNulty

Keyword(s):

Condom Use ◽

Sex Workers ◽

Female Sex Workers ◽

Consistent Condom ◽

Consistent Condom Use ◽

Female Sex ◽

Sexually Transmissible Infections ◽

Vaginal Sex ◽

Sydney Australia ◽

Sex Practices

Background Previous studies have described inconsistent condom use in Chinese- and Thai-speaking female sex workers in Sydney, Australia. In the present study, we describe the demographics and safe sexual practices in the Chinese- and Thai-speaking female sex workers attending the Sydney Sexual Health Centre (SSHC) in 2014–15. Methods: A self-completed 60-item anonymous questionnaire, adapted from previous surveys conducted in 1993 and 2003, was translated into Chinese and Thai and administered to female sex workers attending the SSHC or seen on outreach. Results: In all, 488 surveys were distributed, of which 435 were returned; 43% in Chinese and 57% in Thai. Most women did not plan on sex work before their arrival in Australia. Compared with Chinese-speaking women, Thai-speaking women rated themselves higher on English language literacy, had better knowledge of the transmission of HIV and sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and were more likely to practice 100% condom use. Overall, 72% of the sex workers surveyed reported consistent condom use for vaginal sex at work. Conclusions: Consistent condom use for vaginal sex at work among Chinese- and Thai-speaking female sex workers has decreased slightly from that reported in a similar survey conducted by the SSHC in 2003, when 85% of sex workers reported consistent condom use. There are significant differences between Chinese- and Thai-speaking sex workers in terms of both knowledge and safer sex practices. Ongoing health promotion efforts should focus on providing culturally appropriate education around STIs and safe sex practices not only to workers, but also to parlour owners, managers and consumers.

Download Full-text