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. 2018 Dec;22(12):4034-4047.
doi: 10.1007/s10461-018-2219-x.

Consistent Condom Use by Married and Cohabiting Female Sex Workers in India: Investigating Relational Norms with Commercial Versus Intimate Partners

Anne E Fehrenbacher  1 , Debasish Chowdhury  2 , Smarajit Jana  3 , Protim Ray  3 , Bharati Dey  4 , Toorjo Ghose  5 , Dallas Swendeman  6   7
Affiliations

Consistent Condom Use by Married and Cohabiting Female Sex Workers in India: Investigating Relational Norms with Commercial Versus Intimate Partners

Anne E Fehrenbacher et al. AIDS Behav. 2018 Dec.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

This study examines determinants of consistent condom use (CCU) among married and cohabiting female sex workers (FSW) in India. Although CCU with clients is normative in the study area, most FSW do not consistently use condoms with intimate partners. Multiple logistic regression models indicated that condom use with intimate partners was associated with relationship status, cohabitation, HIV knowledge, STI symptoms, and being offered more money for sex without a condom by clients. Additionally, more days of sex work in the last week, serving as a peer educator, and participating in community mobilization activities were associated with higher odds of CCU across all partner types. Although improving economic security may increase CCU with clients, mobilization to reduce stigma and promote disclosure of sex work to non-cohabiting partners may be necessary to increase CCU overall.

Este estudio examina los determinantes del uso constante del condón (CCU) entre las trabajadoras sexuales (FSW) casadas y en cohabitación en la India. Aunque la CCU con los clientes es normativa en el área de estudio, la mayoría de las FSW no usan condones con sus parejas íntimas. Múltiples modelos de regresión logística indicaron que el uso del condón con parejas íntimas se asoció con el estado de la relación, la cohabitación, el conocimiento del VIH, los síntomas de infecciones transmitidas sexualmente (ITS), y que los clientes les ofrecieron más dinero para tener relaciones sexuales sin un condón. Además, más días de trabajo sexual en la última semana, sirviendo como educador inter pares, y participando en actividades de movilización comunitaria se asociaron con mayores probabilidades de CCU en todos los tipos de socios. Aunque la mejoria de la seguridad económica puede aumentar la CCU con los clientes, puede ser necesaria la movilización para reducir el estigma y promover la divulgación del trabajo sexual a parejas que no viven en concubinato para aumentar la CCU en general.

Keywords: Commercial partners; Community mobilization; Condom use; Intimate partners; Sex work; Structural interventions.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: All authors declare no conflict of interest.

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