scholarly journals Mandatory Testing for HIV and Sexually Transmissible Infections among Sex Workers in Australia: A Barrier to HIV and STI Prevention

2012 ◽  
Vol 02 (03) ◽  
pp. 203-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Jeffreys ◽  
Janelle Fawkes ◽  
Zahra Stardust
Keyword(s):  
Sex Workers ◽  
Sti Prevention ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infections ◽  
Mandatory Testing

Associations between economic dependence, sexual behaviours, and sexually transmitted infections among young, Black, gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men living with and without HIV in Jackson, Mississippi, USA

Sexual Health ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kalysha Closson ◽  
Rachel Vickers Smith ◽  
Gbolahan Olarewaju ◽  
Richard Crosby
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Health ◽  
Relationship Power ◽  
Hiv Status ◽  
Economic Dependence ◽  
Sti Prevention ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Sexual Behaviours ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infections ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Sex With Men

Background In the USA, young Black gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men (YBMSM) bear the largest burden of HIV incidence. The aim of this study is to examine the independent associations between economic dependency on a sexual partner and several HIV risk behaviours and sexual health outcomes among YBMSM living in Jackson, Mississippi, USA. Methods: Baseline data from 589 YBMSM, with a median age of 22.0 years (IQR = 15–25) participating in a brief sex-positive HIV and STI prevention intervention, were used to measure the association between six sexual behaviours, sexually transmissible infections (STIs) status at baseline and economic dependence. Bivariate χ2 associations were tested and regression models adjusted for education level (≤ high school), employment and HIV-status. Results: In regressions, of the six sexual behaviours reported in the last 90 days and six STIs tested at baseline, economically dependent YBMSM were more likely to report condomless anal receptive sex (aOR = 2.19, 95%CI = 1.25–3.83), ≥3 partners as a top (aOR = 1.99, 95%CI = 1.17–340), ≥3 sex partners as a bottom (aOR = 2.07, 95%CI = 1.24–3.45), ≥3 sex acts as a bottom (aOR = 2.10, 95%CI = 1.16–3.82) and testing positive for oral gonorrhoea (aOR = 2.39, 95%CI = 1.18–4.83) after controlling for HIV status, employment and education. Conclusions: Interventions should consider how poverty, unemployment and economic dependence interact to influence relationship power imbalances, condom use and sexual positioning agency, and sexual health for key populations of MSM.

Condoms for sexually transmissible infection prevention: politics versus science

Sexual Health ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Mindel ◽  
Shailendra Sawleshwarkar
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Data ◽  
Case Control Studies ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sti Prevention ◽  
Degree Of Protection ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infections ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Simplex Virus ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Abstinence Only

The present review assesses the protection that condoms offer against sexually transmissible infections (STI) and the impact that social, political and religious opinion in the USA has had in the past 8 years on promoting condoms for safer sex. Condoms offer protection against most STI. However, the degree of protection depends on correct and consistent use, the type of sexual activity and the biological characteristics of different infections. Cross-sectional and case-control studies and other observational data provide the majority of evidence for STI prevention. Condoms provide a high level of protection against those infections that are transmitted mainly via infected secretions, including HIV, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis. Protection against those infections transmitted via skin and mucous membrane contact, including Herpes simplex virus infection and human papilloma virus, appears to be less. The Bush administration, driven by conservative political, social and religious elements in the USA, has mounted a concerted campaign to undermine the role of the condom in health-promotion activities in the USA and overseas by undervaluing and misrepresenting scientific data, and through a sustained and well-funded promotion of abstinence-only education. However, this has lead to considerable controversy and disillusionment with abstinence-only education, both at home and abroad, and there is now incontrovertible evidence that abstinence-only programs are ineffectual.

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

Sexual Health ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 389 ◽  
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.

Health implications of sex trading characteristics in Long Beach, California, USA

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 647-655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara E Clingan ◽  
Dennis G Fisher ◽  
Kholoud Hardan-Khalil ◽  
Grace L Reynolds ◽  
Loucine Huckabay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Sex Workers ◽  
Health Risk Behaviors ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Transmitted Infection ◽  
Sex Trading ◽  
Sti Prevention ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Hiv Test ◽  
Self Report Data

This study examined the comparative health risk behaviors of women who (a) traded sex for money, (b) traded sex for drugs, (c) traded sex for both drugs and money, or (d) did not trade sex. Self-report data were collected from 2369 women who received services through HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing programs and a subset were tested for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and syphilis. Results revealed those women who traded sex only for money used condoms, were tested for HIV, and received the HIV test results more often than the other women. Women who traded sex for both drugs and money reported a significantly higher prevalence of gonorrhea, hepatitis B, and syphilis; were more likely to test positive for hepatitis B, syphilis, and HIV; engaged more often in sex acts without condoms; and were incarcerated for significantly more days. Based on these findings, the targets with greatest potential for STI prevention interventions are female sex workers who trade sex for both drugs and money.

Condom use in China: prevalence, policies, issues and barriers

Sexual Health ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huachun Zou ◽  
Hui Xue ◽  
Xiaofang Wang ◽  
Damien Lu
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Condom Use ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Sex Workers ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infections ◽  
Discordant Couples ◽  
Promotion Strategies ◽  
Sex With Men

In this review, we describe condom use and its influencing factors in China, with a particular focus on the five populations that are at high risk for HIV/sexually transmissible infections (STI) infection: female sex workers, men who have sex with men, migrant workers, young people and sero-discordant couples. The risk for HIV/STI infection is high while condom use rates are low among these five populations. The 100% Condom Use Programme was successful in trial regions in increasing condom use and decreasing HIV/STI prevalence; however, long-term and routine condom promotion strategies should be in place to ensure better awareness of condom use, high availability of condoms and high rate of condom use among populations at high risk of HIV/STI infection in China. Realistic and vigorous condom-related policies and action plans should be developed and implemented to address the issues and barriers facing condom promotion in China.

Low education levels are associated with early age of sexual debut, drug use and risky sexual behaviours among young Indigenous Australians

Sexual Health ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Handan Wand ◽  
Joanne Bryant ◽  
Heather Worth ◽  
Marian Pitts ◽  
John M. Kaldor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Sexual Debut ◽  
Individual Risk ◽  
Indigenous Australians ◽  
Sti Prevention ◽  
Sexual Behaviours ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infections ◽  
Risky Sexual Behaviours ◽  
Males And Females

Background Earlier age at sexual debut is associated with drug and alcohol use, risky sexual behaviours and sexually transmissible infections (STI). Methods: In the present study, 2320 young Indigenous Australians were surveyed. Results: Most study participants had sex for the first time when they were 14 years or younger (79% and 67% for males and females respectively). More than 80% of participants were categorised as being in the high-risk category for the combined sexual risk factors (i.e. not using condoms, drunk or high at last sexual act, or three or more sexual partners in the past year). There was a linear decreasing trend between the proportion of males and females who had less than high school education and age at first sex (Ptrend < 0.001). Compared with the highest quintile of age at first sexual debut (≥18 years), those in the bottom quintile (<15 years) were less likely to have completed high school (63% vs 32% respectively for males; 68% vs 26% respectively for females; Ptrend < 0.001 for both). Conclusions: The findings of the present study suggest that sex education and STI prevention should start early when targeting Indigenous young people, with age-appropriate messages. Sex education should be comprehensive and address individual risk behaviours, sexual agency and societal vulnerability to not only delay sexual debut, but also to emphasise the importance of STI prevention through condom use, which clearly already works to a certain extent with this group.

Sexually transmissible infections among female sex workers in Manado, Indonesia, using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction-based reverse line blot assay

Sexual Health ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ferra O. Mawu ◽  
Stephen C. Davies ◽  
Michelle McKechnie ◽  
Endang R. Sedyaningsih ◽  
Asti Widihastuti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Sex Work ◽  
Sex Workers ◽  
Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Female Sex Workers ◽  
Mycoplasma Genitalium ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infections ◽  
Polymerase Chain

Background: Sexually transmissible infections (STIs) remain highly prevalent, and HIV is increasing, among female sex workers (FSWs) in Indonesia. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of, and risk factors for, STIs among FSWs in Manado, Indonesia. Methods: We recruited FSWs mainly at their workplace: they completed a questionnaire and provided a urine sample and self-collected vaginal swab. Samples were tested using multiplex polymerase chain reaction, followed by reverse line blot hybridisation. Results: We recruited 221 FSWs, (median age: 25 years). During the previous 3 months, 30% reported never using condoms; only 2.7% always used condoms. Of 217 women with urine samples, 49% had a ‘curable STI’: 10.6% with gonorrhoea, 26.7% with chlamydia, 12.4% with Mycoplasma genitalium and 22.6% with trichomoniasis. Independent risk factors for gonorrhoea were: domiciled outside North Sulawesi (P = 0.001) and age 16–25 years (P = 0.02); for chlamydia: no prior history of STI symptoms (P = 0.003) and age 16–25 years (P = 0.02); for Mycoplasma genitalium: number of clients on last day of sex work (P = 0.004); for trichomoniasis: number of clients per week (P = 0.04). When these four infections were grouped as any ‘curable STI’, independent associations were: number of clients on the last day of sex work (P = 0.001), age 16–25 years (P = 0.02) and sex working for fewer than 2 years (P = 0.03). Conclusions: This is the first report of M. genitalium infection in Indonesia. The high prevalence of STIs and low condom use among these FSWs suggest their vulnerability to the HIV epidemic in Indonesia. They need enhanced interventions, including outreach screening, and periodic presumptive treatment.

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