Substance Use and Sexual Risk Behavior Among Male and Transgender Women Sex Workers at the Prostitution Outreach Center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Objectives Male and transgender women sex workers (TSWs) are vulnerable for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and substance use might be a relevant contributing factor. We assessed sociodemographic characteristics and substance use among sex workers; divided into 3 groups: Transgender women sex workers, male sex workers who have sex with men only or also with females (MSW-M), male sex workers who have sex with females only (MSW-F). Methods A survey on substance use and sexual (risk) behavior was offered during routine STI screening at the Prostituti... Mehr ...

Verfasser: Drückler, Susanne
van Rooijen, Martijn S.
de Vries, Henry J.C.
Dokumenttyp: Artikel
Erscheinungsdatum: 2019
Reihe/Periodikum: Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; volume 47, issue 2, page 114-121 ; ISSN 1537-4521 0148-5717
Verlag/Hrsg.: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Schlagwörter: Infectious Diseases / Microbiology (medical) / Public Health / Environmental and Occupational Health / Dermatology
Sprache: Englisch
Permalink: https://search.fid-benelux.de/Record/base-26832351
Datenquelle: BASE; Originalkatalog
Powered By: BASE
Link(s) : http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/olq.0000000000001096

Objectives Male and transgender women sex workers (TSWs) are vulnerable for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and substance use might be a relevant contributing factor. We assessed sociodemographic characteristics and substance use among sex workers; divided into 3 groups: Transgender women sex workers, male sex workers who have sex with men only or also with females (MSW-M), male sex workers who have sex with females only (MSW-F). Methods A survey on substance use and sexual (risk) behavior was offered during routine STI screening at the Prostitution and Health Centre (P&G292) in Amsterdam. Bacterial STI positivity (chlamydia (including lymphogranuloma venereum), gonorrhea, and/or infectious syphilis), and substance use were compared (χ 2 test, Fisher exact test). Results From 2014 until 2015, 99 (60.4%) of 164 eligible visitors participated (n = 69 MSW-M [69.7%], n = 15 TSW [15.2%], and n = 15 MSW-F [15.2%]). Transgender women sex workers reported the highest number of sex partners in the previous 6 months (median: MSW-M 60 vs. TSW 300 vs. MSW-F 12; P < 0.001). The 3 groups did not differ in having condomless anal or oral sex. Bacterial STI positivity was 29.0% in MSW-M, 26.7% in TSW, and 13.3% in MSW-F ( P = 0.56). Three new HIV infections were diagnosed, all in MSW-M, whereas 20.3% of MSW-M and 20.0% of TSW were known HIV-positive compared with none of MSW-F ( P = 0.14). Illicit substance use during working time in <6 months was 40.5% among MSW-M, 40.0% among TSW, and 20.0% among MSW-F ( P = 0.02). The most reported reason for substance use was: “sex work becomes physically easier.” Conclusions Bacterial STI positivity and illicit substances use during work were high in all 3 sex worker groups, emphasizing the importance of combined and targeted interventions. In-depth qualitative research is needed to better understand intentions and reasons for substance use.