International Journal of STD & AIDS > Volume 17, Number 5 > Pp. 319-323

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Original Research Article

Sex work practices and condom use in female sex workers in Sydney

J Fox, R L Tideman, S Gilmour, C Marks, I van Beek and A Mindel

Sexually Transmitted Infections Research Centre, The University of Sydney, Marian Villa, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; Sexually Transmitted Infections Research Centre, The University of Sydney, Marian Villa, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; Sexually Transmitted Infections Research Centre, The University of Sydney, Marian Villa, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; Sexually Transmitted Infections Research Centre, The University of Sydney, Marian Villa, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; Kirketon Road Centre, Kings Cross, NSW, Australia; Sexually Transmitted Infections Research Centre, The University of Sydney, Marian Villa, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia

The aim of this study was to determine sex work practices and predictors of condom use among female sex workers (SWs) in Sydney. SWs from two centres completed a self-administered questionnaire covering demographic and sexual characteristics and sex work practices. One hundred and forty-eight international (born in Asia) and 141 local SWs (born in Australia, New Zealand or the UK) were recruited. Local SWs saw more clients per shift than international SWs (P = 0.002), but international SWs worked more shifts per week than local SWs (P = 0.001). International SWs used condoms less consistently at work than local SWs (P = 0.001). About 37% of international SWs never used condoms with non-paying partners, compared with 14% of local SWs (P = 0.01). Speaking Thai (odds ratio [OR] 8.9, 95% confidence interval [CI]; 3.19–24.87) or Chinese (OR 17.4; 95% CI 4.98–60.89) (both P < 0.001) and previous sex work in Thailand (OR 10.0 95% CI 2.31–43.52; P = 0.02) were associated with inconsistent condom use. Strategies to improve condom use need to be evaluated.

Key Words: FEMALE SEX WORKERS • SEX WORK PRACTICES • AUSTRALIAN • INTERNATIONAL • CONDOMS

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