Plumridge E, Chetwynd J; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12; 10: 15 (abstract no. 033D).
Dept Public Health, Christchurch School of Medicine, New Zealand.
OBJECTIVES: To study the contexts and circumstances leading to unsafe sex practices amongst clients of female sex workers in their commercial and non-commercial sexual encounters. METHODS: This was a 2-stage project involving both quantitative and qualitative research phases. Clients were contacted and interviewed in the commercial sex districts of three major urban centres. In the first stage of the study 30 men were interviewed with a structured interview technique. Findings from this phase led to in-depth interviews with a further 25 clients focussing particularly on the context and meaning of condom use. RESULTS: Condoms were used very commonly in commercial sex encounters, but relatively rarely in non-commercial sex. Clients approached condom use in a very passive manner, rarely carrying them nor initiating their use. With sex workers clients expected condoms to be provided as part of the service and this expectation carried over to their non-commercial partners as well. The qualitative analysis explored the justifications clients gave for their unsafe sex practices and the role of phantasy in sustaining unsafe sex. DISCUSSION: Clients of female sex workers may be at particular risk of transmitting HIV infection because of their passivity in condom use combined with their frequent partner exchange. Whilst their commercial partners may be protected by insistence on condom use, their non-commercial partners, including wives and permanent partners, may be at risk. CONCLUSIONS: Future health promotion efforts will need to address clients' rationalisations for unsafe sex.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Attitude
- Condoms
- Female
- HIV Infections
- Health Promotion
- Humans
- Interviews as Topic
- Male
- Prostitution
- Safe Sex
- Unsafe Sex
- manpower
Other ID:
UI: 102208283
From Meeting Abstracts