Determinants of condom use in female sex workers in Surabaya, Indonesia

• Published in: International journal of STD & AIDS Vol. 11; no. 4; pp. 262 - 265
• Main Authors: JOESOEF, M. R, KIO, D, LINNAN, M, KAMBOJI, A, BARAKBAH, Y, IDAJADI, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.04.2000; Royal Society of Medicine Press; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; AIDS/HIV; Biological and medical sciences; condoms; Condoms - utilization; Epidemiology. Vaccinations; Female; General aspects; Health Surveys; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Indonesia - epidemiology; Indonesia, Surabaya; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Population; prostitution; Sex Work; sexual behavior; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - epidemiology; Tropical medicine; Asia; Indonesia; INDONESIA; CONDOM; SEX WORKERS; Human; Prevention; Prostitution; Sexually transmitted disease; Condom; Motivation; Attitude; Use; Female; Epidemiology; Women; Hiv Infections > prevention and control; Risk Reduction Behavior; Prostitutes > women; Viral Diseases; Contraception; Infections; Barrier Methods; Family Planning; Sexually Transmitted Diseases > prevention and control; Diseases; Asia; Southeastern Asia; Reproductive Tract Infections; Contraceptive Methods; Research Report; Developing Countries; Behavior; Sex Behavior; Indonesia
• ISSN: 0956-4624; 1758-1052
• DOI: 10.1258/0956462001915679

In the developing world condom use among sex workers and their clients plays a dominant role in the transmission of HIV/STD. In Surabaya, Indonesia, data from the 1993 STD prevalence survey in female sex workers (brothels, street, massage parlours, barber shops, call-girl houses, and nightclubs) reveal that only 5% (33/692) of the brothel workers and 14% (25/177) of the street walkers had condoms in their possession at the time of the interview. During the last paid sexual intercourse, sex workers from the brothels, streets, and nightclubs used condoms infrequently (14%, 20%, and 25%, respectively). Sex workers from massage parlours, barber shops, and call girls were about 5 to 3 times more likely to use condoms than sex workers from nightclubs (adjusted odds ratio of 3.5, 4.9, and 4.2, respectively); thus condom promotion programmes should be targeted at sex workers at brothels, streets, and nightclubs. Programmes should include: (1) free distribution of condoms to sex establishments at the initial stage, and condom social marketing at later stages; (2) penalties, including legal sanctions, against any sex establishments that do not consistently use condoms; (3) participation of brothel owners and madams in encouraging sex workers to consistently have clients use condoms during sexual intercourse; and (4) establishment of sentinel surveillance to monitor STD/HIV and condom-use compliance.