OBJECTIVE: To characterize and describe patterns of HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STI) and sexual behaviour of male clients of female sex workers (FSW). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 4821 clients of FSW from 12 districts in three states in India: Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. A structured questionnaire was administered to elicit demographic characteristics and sexual behavioural patterns. Blood and urine samples were tested for HIV, syphilis and herpes simplex type 2 serology, gonococcal and chlamydial infection. RESULTS: The median age of clients surveyed was 30 years; 57% were married and 64% had a steady sexual partner; 61% had sex with more than one FSW and 39% had four or more sexual encounters in the past month. The prevalence of HIV ranged from 2.0% to 10.9%, syphilis ranged from 3.1% to 10.1%; gonorrhoea and chlamydia ranged between 0% and 4.5%. Clients older than 30 years [odds ratio (OR) 1.65; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.33-2.05] and having a different mix of commercial and non-commercial partners (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.25-1.96) had a higher volume of sex acts with FSW. Inconsistent condom use with FSW was significantly associated with older clients (OR 4.2; 95% CI 3.33-5.29), illiteracy (OR 1.39; 95% CI 1.14-1.69), age <18 years at first paid sex (OR 1.83; 95% CI 1.24-2.70) and having different FSW partners in the past month (OR 1.64; 95% CI 1.23-2.18). CONCLUSION: Clients of FSW studied here constitute a significant bridge group for HIV and other STI, because of their high volume of different sexual partners and very low consistent condom use. HIV prevention programmes need to address male clients.
OBJECTIVE: To characterize and describe patterns of HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STI) and sexual behaviour of male clients of female sex workers (FSW). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 4821 clients of FSW from 12 districts in three states in India: Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. A structured questionnaire was administered to elicit demographic characteristics and sexual behavioural patterns. Blood and urine samples were tested for HIV, syphilis and herpes simplex type 2 serology, gonococcal and chlamydial infection. RESULTS: The median age of clients surveyed was 30 years; 57% were married and 64% had a steady sexual partner; 61% had sex with more than one FSW and 39% had four or more sexual encounters in the past month. The prevalence of HIV ranged from 2.0% to 10.9%, syphilis ranged from 3.1% to 10.1%; gonorrhoea and chlamydia ranged between 0% and 4.5%. Clients older than 30 years [odds ratio (OR) 1.65; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.33-2.05] and having a different mix of commercial and non-commercial partners (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.25-1.96) had a higher volume of sex acts with FSW. Inconsistent condom use with FSW was significantly associated with older clients (OR 4.2; 95% CI 3.33-5.29), illiteracy (OR 1.39; 95% CI 1.14-1.69), age <18 years at first paid sex (OR 1.83; 95% CI 1.24-2.70) and having different FSW partners in the past month (OR 1.64; 95% CI 1.23-2.18). CONCLUSION: Clients of FSW studied here constitute a significant bridge group for HIV and other STI, because of their high volume of different sexual partners and very low consistent condom use. HIV prevention programmes need to address male clients.
Authors: Deborah Jones; Rashmi Bagga; Ritu Nehra; Sunil Sethi; Kamini Walia; Mahendra Kumar; Olga Villar-Loubet; Maria Lopez; Stephen M Weiss Journal: Int J Behav Med Date: 2013-09
Authors: Niranjan Saggurti; Anita Raj; Bidhubhusan Mahapatra; Debbie M Cheng; Sharon Coleman; Carly Bridden; Madhusudana Battala; Jay G Silverman; Manoj H Pardeshi; Jeffrey H Samet Journal: AIDS Behav Date: 2013-01
Authors: S Navani-Vazirani; E Heylen; J Deardorff; A K Srikrishnan; C K Vasudevan; D Solomon; M L Ekstrand Journal: HSOA J AIDS Clin Res STDs Date: 2017-03-28
Authors: Linda M Niccolai; Veronika A Odinokova; Liliya Z Safiullina; Zinaida D Bodanovskaya; Robert Heimer; Olga S Levina; Maia M Rusakova Journal: AIDS Care Date: 2012-01-31
Authors: Georgiy V Bobashev; William A Zule; Karen C Osilla; Tracy L Kline; Wendee M Wechsberg Journal: J Urban Health Date: 2009-06-10 Impact factor: 3.671
Authors: Karla D Wagner; Eileen V Pitpitan; Claudia V Chavarin; Carlos Magis-Rodriguez; Thomas L Patterson Journal: Sex Transm Dis Date: 2013-08 Impact factor: 2.830