Mee-Lian Wong1, Roy K W Chan, David Koh. 1. Department of Community, Occupational and Family Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore. cofwml@nus.edu.sg
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We investigated factors associated with condom use among men patronizing female sex workers abroad and locally. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a survey on 372 local men attending the only public sexually transmitted infections clinic in Singapore between 2001 and 2003. RESULTS: Condom use was higher among clients patronizing sex workers in Singapore than those patronizing sex workers abroad (87.5% vs. 54.4%, P<0.001). Condom use in both groups was associated with initiation of condom use by the sex workers (adjusted prevalence ratios: 1.67, 95% confidence interval: 1.11-2.49; 1.87, 1.21-2.90) but was not associated with clients' knowledge of disease, self-perceived risk, confidence in condom use, and dislike of condoms. Less sex workers abroad than in Singapore (32.7% vs. 75.6%, P<0.001) initiated condom use. CONCLUSION: Lower condom use among Singaporean travelers abroad was determined by extrinsic factors, whereby sex workers abroad were less likely to initiate condom use rather than by clients' factors.
OBJECTIVES: We investigated factors associated with condom use among men patronizing female sex workers abroad and locally. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a survey on 372 local men attending the only public sexually transmitted infections clinic in Singapore between 2001 and 2003. RESULTS: Condom use was higher among clients patronizing sex workers in Singapore than those patronizing sex workers abroad (87.5% vs. 54.4%, P<0.001). Condom use in both groups was associated with initiation of condom use by the sex workers (adjusted prevalence ratios: 1.67, 95% confidence interval: 1.11-2.49; 1.87, 1.21-2.90) but was not associated with clients' knowledge of disease, self-perceived risk, confidence in condom use, and dislike of condoms. Less sex workers abroad than in Singapore (32.7% vs. 75.6%, P<0.001) initiated condom use. CONCLUSION: Lower condom use among Singaporean travelers abroad was determined by extrinsic factors, whereby sex workers abroad were less likely to initiate condom use rather than by clients' factors.