Correlates of HIV Risk and Preventive Behaviors in Armenian Female Sex Workers

Markosyan, Karine; Babikian, Talin; DiClemente, Ralph J.; Hirsch, Jennifer S.; Grigoryan, Samvel; Rı́o, Carlos del

doi:10.1007/s10461-006-9147-x

Cited by 29 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Our street-based FSWs showed higher baseline rates of consistent condom use than have been found previously in other street-based FSW populations in Armenia and parts of Asia and Africa, but are similar to those in Chile, Hong Kong, and China [6,[13][14][15]. In focus group discussions (Markosyan et al, unpublished), women reported previous exposure to condom use messages possibly explaining high baseline rates.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

“…Among the few available studies with FSWs in Armenia, a cross-sectional study by Markosyan et al [6] observed a high prevalence of inconsistent condom use with all types of sex partners, condom failures, alcohol and drug use, and sex with drug injecting clients. Prominent misconceptions regarding HIV transmission, prevention and disease manifestations were also observed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Randomized Controlled Trial of an HIV Prevention Intervention for Street-Based Female Sex Workers in Yerevan, Armenia: Preliminary Evidence of Efficacy

et al. 2010

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This study evaluated the efficacy of an HIV intervention among female sex workers (FSWs) randomized to an intervention or wait-list control. FSWs (N = 120) completed baseline, 3- and 6-month assessments. A health educator implemented 2-hour intervention emphasized gender-empowerment, self-efficacy to persuade clients to use condoms, condom application skills, and eroticizing safer sex. Over the 6-month follow-up, FSWs in the intervention reported more consistent condom use with clients (P = .004) and were more likely to apply condoms on clients (P = .0001). Intervention effects were observed for other psychosocial mediators of safer sex. Brief, gender and culturally congruent interventions can enhance HIV-preventive behaviors among FSWs.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Randomized Controlled Trial of an HIV Prevention Intervention for Street-Based Female Sex Workers in Yerevan, Armenia: Preliminary Evidence of Efficacy

et al. 2010

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“…In Serbia (Kosova) 16% of FSWs reported being forced to have sex against their will in the last 12 months 41. In Armenia, 30% of street SWs reported a lifetime experience of forced sex89 and 54% had experienced violence or been threatened by clients in Moldova 47. Younger SWs may be more vulnerable to violence; in Romania 46% of a sample of FSWs (aged 16–24 years) had been forced to have sex in the last 12 months 90…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors mediating HIV risk among female sex workers in Europe: a systematic review and ecological analysis

et al. 2013

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ObjectivesWe reviewed the epidemiology of HIV and selected sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among female sex workers (FSWs) in WHO-defined Europe. There were three objectives: (1) to assess the prevalence of HIV and STIs (chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhoea); (2) to describe structural and individual-level risk factors associated with prevalence and (3) to examine the relationship between structural-level factors and national estimates of HIV prevalence among FSWs.DesignA systematic search of published and unpublished literature measuring HIV/STIs and risk factors among FSWs, identified through electronic databases published since 2005. ‘Best’ estimates of HIV prevalence were calculated from the systematic review to provide national level estimates of HIV. Associations between HIV prevalence and selected structural-level indicators were assessed using linear regression models.Studies reviewedOf the 1993 papers identified in the search, 73 peer-reviewed and grey literature documents were identified as meeting our criteria of which 63 papers provided unique estimates of HIV and STI prevalence and nine reported multivariate risk factors for HIV/STI among FSWs.ResultsHIV in Europe remains low among FSWs who do not inject drugs (<1%), but STIs are high, particularly syphilis in the East and gonorrhoea. FSWs experience high levels of violence and structural risk factors associated with HIV, including lack of access to services and working on the street. Linear regression models showed HIV among FSWs to link with injecting drug use and imprisonment.ConclusionsFindings show that HIV prevention interventions should be nested inside strategies that address the social welfare of sex workers, highlighting in turn the need to target the social determinants of health and inequality, including regarding access to services, experience of violence and migration. Future epidemiological and intervention studies of HIV among vulnerable populations need to better systematically delineate how microenvironmental and macroenvironmental factors combine to increase or reduce HIV/STI risk.

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“…First, some commercial sex establishments usually rely on sales of alcohol to attain profitability (Degraaf, Vanwesenbeeck, Vanzessen, Straver, & Visser, 1995). Second, due to its entertaining attribute, alcohol is often used by female sex workers (FSWs) to facilitate sexual engagement (Gossop, Powis, Griffiths, & Strang, 1995;Markosyan et al, 2007). Third, FSWs may also use alcohol as a tool to cope with the stressors associated with their stigmatized and often illegal occupation .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alcohol Consumption in Relation to Work Environment and Key Sociodemographic Characteristics Among Female Sex Workers in China

Chen

Zhou

et al. 2012

Substance Use & Misuse

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The study explores the variation in pattern of alcohol use and related risk behaviors by types of sex work environments and sociodemographic characteristics among female sex workers (FSWs) in China. Data were collected from 1,022 FSWs in Guangxi, China, through a self-administered questionnaire. Chi-square and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to assess the variations. Results showed that younger FSWs were more susceptible than older FSWs to nearly all the risk drinking behaviors. FSWs of non-Han ethnicity as compared with those of Han ethnicity were more at risk of drinking large amounts of alcohol and having sex under the influence of alcohol. FSWs in entertainment establishments were most likely to have all kinds of risk drinking behaviors. Street-based FSWs were least likely to drink alcohol but more or equally likely to engage in alcohol-related sexual risk behaviors. The study highlights a need to develop tailored alcohol risk reduction intervention that takes into consideration these differences.

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Correlates of HIV Risk and Preventive Behaviors in Armenian Female Sex Workers

Cited by 29 publications

References 17 publications

A Randomized Controlled Trial of an HIV Prevention Intervention for Street-Based Female Sex Workers in Yerevan, Armenia: Preliminary Evidence of Efficacy

A Randomized Controlled Trial of an HIV Prevention Intervention for Street-Based Female Sex Workers in Yerevan, Armenia: Preliminary Evidence of Efficacy

Factors mediating HIV risk among female sex workers in Europe: a systematic review and ecological analysis

Alcohol Consumption in Relation to Work Environment and Key Sociodemographic Characteristics Among Female Sex Workers in China

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