A qualitative study on commercial sex behaviors among male clients in Sichuan Province, China

Abstract

Males who seek commercial sex have been identified as an important “bridging population” in the transmission of HIV. There is little information on the HIV-related risk perceptions and behaviors among commercial sex male clients (CSMCs) in China. This study reports qualitative findings from six focus groups and 41 in-depth interviews with CSMCs in Sichuan Province, China. Commercial sex visits were described as a group activity and associated with patterns of social-network specific interactions and norms. Primary motivations for visiting female sex workers included peer pressure, stress reduction, and fulfilling a need for an intimate and emotional support. Male clients’ decisions about condom use were influenced by their perceived norms of condom use, susceptibility of HIV infection, and the condom policy and availability in the establishments. Implications of these findings for further research and interventions are discussed.

Condom Use with Female Sex Workers among Male Clients in Sichuan Province, China: The Role of Interpersonal and Venue-Level Factors

“…A prior qualitative study in Sichuan province 36 revealed that, despite the availability of condoms in pharmacies and sex shops in China, many male clients were still inhibited by the social embarrassment of being caught with a condom. Consequently, many male clients relied on condoms available in the commercial sex venues.…”

Beyond the Tease: Exploring Men’s Constructions of Paying for Sex in South Africa

“…The majority of participants raised concern about STIs (sexually transmitted infections), especially when considering South African sex workers. This was not a recurring theme in reviewed international literature, where male clients often did not use protection and seemed unperturbed by the dangers of unprotected sexual activities (Goldenberg, Strathdee, Gallardo, Rhodes, Wagner, & Patterson, 2011;Yang et al, 2010). Fear of disease may be more prevalent in South Africa, because South Africa has one of the highest levels of HIV infection in the world, an estimated 5.2 million people (approximately 12%), making it likely that South African participants may be more mindful of contracting the virus (Morrell, Jewkes, & Lindegger, 2012).…”

“…Such a definition of masculine sexuality may actually contribute to the conditions that perpetuate sex work, as men may come to define sex work as a natural outcome of their intrinsic sex drive (Hernandez-Truyol & Larson, 2006;Raymond, 2003). Visits to sex workers are often constructed as a normative social group activity, and although men are not forced into participating, the group may covertly coerce an individual into participating by creating an accepting normative setting (Yang, Latkin, Liu, Nelson, Wang, & Luan, 2010). Often visits to sex workers are considered a bonding experience with friends, an opportunity for business networking or as a rite of passage into manhood where men can prove their sexual adequacy to their peers (Peng, 2007;Yen, 2008).…”

“…Participants expressed varying degrees of distress and discomfort around buying sex, as Frank states: "You've got the guilt, you feel like you've done something wrong" and Derrick explains that he "didn't actually want to look at her, just because it was such an awkward situation". Although participants express their experiences as a deviant act, several studies show that sex workers' clientele are ordinary, heterogeneous citizens from numerous nationalities, cultures, religious, socio economic backgrounds, and marital statuses (Mansonn, 2006;Monto & Julka, 2009;Morrison, 2006;Peng, 2007;Perkins, 1999;Yang et al, 2010). This may be attributed to the stigma around sex work in South Africa, although it is possible that some men may feel that paying for sex is unethical which may cause feelings of distress.…”

“…In interviews with Finnish sex buyers, men spoke about buying sex as if it was any other market activity (Marttila, 2008). Several studies have found that men consider commercial sex work as a social networking tool (Peng, 2007;Raymond, 2003;Yang et al, 2010), often treating business partners to commercial sexual services in order to gain their support for economic endeavours (Peng, 2007;Raymond, 2003).…”