Sexual health and use of condoms among local and international sex workers in Sydney.

Abstract

Objectives: To compare indicators of sexual health and predictors of condom use for commercial sex among local and international female sex workers first attending an STD clinic. Setting: A public STD clinic in Sydney, Australia. Subjects: All sex workers first attending between June 1991 and May 1993. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of demographic, behavioural and morbidity data from proforma medical records. Results: 91 local sex workers and 123 international sex workers (predominantly from Thailand, Malaysia and China) first presented during the study period. There were significantly higher prevalences of chlamydia (0 v. 15%, p = 0O0002), gonorrhoea (0 v. 14%, p = 0.0006), syphilis (0 v. 10%, p = 0O006) and clinical genital herpes (0 v. 5%, p = 004) among international sex workers. The only case of HIV infection was in an international sex worker. Inconsistent condom use for commercial sex was significantly more common among international sex workers (RR = 4.5; 95% CI 3-1-6.5). On multivariate analysis, inconsistent condom use in international sex workers was associated with a recent history of prostitution outside Australia (p = 0.04), while inconsistent condom usage among local sex workers was associated with increasing age (p = 0 003). Conclusions: These data illustrate the efficacy of condoms and the success of targeted education programmes in local sex workers in Sydney. By contrast, international sex workers continued to be at high risk of STDs. The international sex industry in Sydney requires enhanced culture-specific interventions. Immigration laws as they affect sex workers should also be reviewed.

The health and welfare needs of female and transgender street sex workers in New South Wales

“…1,2 High STI and increased HIV infection rates in recent migrant sex workers in Sydney have been addressed by a specific sexual health promotion program. 2 A small study of 17 street sex workers, conducted at the Kirketon Road Centre (KRC) in Kings Cross in 1987, suggested that street sex workers had a high incidence of hepatitis B and more general health problems than 'indoor' sex workers surveyed at the same time. They were also more likely to inject drugs than were brothel sex workers.…”

Sex Work and Risky Sexual Behaviors among Foreign Entertainment Workers in Urban Singapore: Findings from Mystery Client Survey

“…[12][13][14][15][16][17][18] Some studies have been conducted on Asian FSWs who worked abroad in Western countries, but these were conducted mostly in massage parlours 19 or brothels. 20 There is very little research on the risky sexual behaviors of foreign Asian FSWs who engaged in selling sex in nonbrothel entertainment establishments abroad. Singapore, an island city state in Southeast Asia with a population of 4,987,600 21 has, in recent years, experienced a rapid growth in entertainment establishments such as karaoke lounges, night clubs, discotheques, and bars.…”

Health indicators among low income women who report a history of sex work: the population based Northern California Young Women's Survey

“…1 Numerous studies have sought to estimate the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STI), including HIV, among sex workers. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] However, nearly all of these studies have relied on convenience samples, mostly from STI clinics or non-randomly selected sex work venues. The Los Angeles Women Health Risk Study used a rigorous randomised sampling methodology for its cross sectional analysis of street based sex workers in Los Angeles; however, there was no control group against which to compare HIV and STI prevalence.…”