HIV risk practices by female sex workers according to workplace |
| |
Authors: | Giseli Nogueira Damacena Célia Landmann Szwarcwald Paulo Roberto Borges de Souza Júnior |
| |
Institution: | Laboratório de Informações em Saúde. Instituto de Comunicação e Informação Científica e Tecnológica em Saúde. Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil |
| |
Abstract: | OBJECTIVE To investigate differences in HIV infection- related risk practices by
Female Sex Workers according to workplace and the effects of homophily on
estimating HIV prevalence.METHODS Data from 2,523 women, recruited using Respondent-Driven Sampling, were used
for the study carried out in 10 Brazilian cities in 2008-2009. The study
included female sex workers aged 18 and over. The questionnaire was
completed by the subjects and included questions on characteristics of
professional activity, sexual practices, use of drugs, HIV testing, and
access to health services. HIV quick tests were conducted. The participants
were classified in two groups according to place of work: on the street or
indoor venues, like nightclubs and saunas. To compare variable distributions
by place of work, we used Chi-square homogeneity tests, taking into
consideration unequal selection probabilities as well as the structure of
dependence between observations. We tested the effect of homophily by
workplace on estimated HIV prevalence.RESULTS The highest HIV risk practices were associated with: working on the streets,
lower socioeconomic status, low regular smear test coverage, higher levels
of crack use and higher levels of syphilis serological scars as well as
higher prevalence of HIV infection. The effect of homophily was higher among
sex workers in indoor venues. However, it did not affect the estimated
prevalence of HIV, even after using a post-stratification by workplace
procedure.CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that strategies should focus on extending access to,
and utilization of, health services. Prevention policies should be
specifically aimed at street workers. Regarding the application of
Respondent-Driven Sampling, the sample should be sufficient to estimate
transition probabilities, as the network develops more quickly among sex
workers in indoor venues. |
| |
Keywords: | Sex Workers Dangerous Behavior HIV Seroprevalence Risk Factors Workplace |
|
|