BACKGROUND Heterosexual contact is the most common mode of HIV transmission in India that is largely linked to sex work. We assessed the non-use of condoms in sex work and with regular sex partners by female sex workers (FSWs), and identified its associations that could assist in planning HIV prevention programmes. METHODS Detailed documentation of various aspects of sex work, and sexual beha...

The nature of sex work changes over time for many reasons. In recent decades around the world, there has been movement toward legalization and control of sex economies. Studies of the possible impact of legalization mainly have focused on sexually transmitted infections and violence, with little attention to change in the diversity of sexual services provided. This study examined the practices ...

The potential for exposure of low and high risk women to HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI) through unprotected sex with male clients of female sex workers in Cotonou could account for most if not all of the estimated yearly numbers of HIV infections in Cotonou women (approximately 1000). As ongoing transmission of HIV, and also of the most predominant STIs such as gonorrhoea and HSV...

BACKGROUND Physical and sexual violence heighten STI/HIV risk for women in sex work. Against this backdrop, we describe the nature of abuse against women in sex work, and its STI/HIV implications, across perpetrators. METHODS Adult women involved in sex work (n = 35) in Baltimore, MD participated in an in-depth interview and brief survey. RESULTS Physical and sexual violence were prevalent,...

OBJECTIVES This study examines violence experienced in work and personal contexts and relation to HIV risk factors in these contexts among female sex workers (FSW) in Andhra Pradesh, India. METHODS FSW at least 18 years of age (n=2335) were recruited through three rounds of respondent-driven sampling between 2006 and 2010 for a survey on HIV risk. Using crude and adjusted logistic regression ...

This paper is the third in a series in which the social behavior of mentally disabled clients in community facilities was examined. In this report, social choice for various cognitive and physical characteristics and for exposure to others was investigated in five settings. Preferences were inferred from observed affiliation, self reports, and staff judgments. Clients tended to prefer peers who...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the use of a testing-only "express" visit option to enhance efficiency in a busy STI clinic. METHODS At the Denver Metro Health Clinic, clients at low risk for sexually transmitted infections (STI) are offered an express visit comprised of a urine test for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) as well as optional syphilis and human immunodeficiency vi...

BACKGROUND The availability of oral fluid HIV rapid testing provides an approach that may have the potential to expand HIV testing in China, especially among most-a-risk populations. There are few investigations about the acceptability of oral fluid HIV testing among most-at-risk populations in China. METHOD A cross-sectional study with men who have sex with men (MSM), female sex workers (FSW...

BACKGROUND This study was conducted to ascertain the feasibility of using rapid oral fluid testing as an alternative HIV testing method in China. METHOD This is a mixed-method study among men who have sex with men (MSM), female sex workers (FSW) and VCT clients, conducted in 4 cities in Shandong Province. A pre-tested questionnaire was administered to 1137 participants through face-to-face in...

BACKGROUND HIV counselling and testing (HCT) clinics have the potential to be entry points for recruiting populations at high risk for HIV infection for HIV prevention and treatment studies. Cohort data from key populations are crucial for HIV study site selection. METHOD This cohort study recruited clients at an HCT clinic in Bangkok, Thailand. HIV prevalence was assessed along with demograp...