Abstract
We examined condom breakage rates and predictors of breakage in a prospective telephone-based study of female sex workers
(FSWs) in Bangalore, India. We obtained data on 3,257 condom-use sex acts, and breakage occurred in 2.1 % of these. Situational
factors, especially those associated with male clients’ behaviors, were the most important predictors of breakage, including
sexual inexperience, roughness and violence. Breakage was also associated with having vaginal and anal sex at the same encounter
and with poor-fitting condoms. Despite lower than expected breakage rates, the high client volume of FSWs means that there
are many unprotected sex acts caused by breakage. Discussions should be held around new education messages, and how programs
can respond quickly when sex workers encounter clients who are inebriated, violent or unusually sexually charged. More work
is urgently needed with police, and on FSW empowerment, the use of help lines, and counseling for the most vulnerable women.
(FSWs) in Bangalore, India. We obtained data on 3,257 condom-use sex acts, and breakage occurred in 2.1 % of these. Situational
factors, especially those associated with male clients’ behaviors, were the most important predictors of breakage, including
sexual inexperience, roughness and violence. Breakage was also associated with having vaginal and anal sex at the same encounter
and with poor-fitting condoms. Despite lower than expected breakage rates, the high client volume of FSWs means that there
are many unprotected sex acts caused by breakage. Discussions should be held around new education messages, and how programs
can respond quickly when sex workers encounter clients who are inebriated, violent or unusually sexually charged. More work
is urgently needed with police, and on FSW empowerment, the use of help lines, and counseling for the most vulnerable women.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s10461-012-0192-3
- Authors
- Janet Bradley, CHARME-India Project, Bangalore, India KHPT Office, IT Park 5th Floor, #1–4 Rajajinagar Industrial Area, Behind KSSIDC Admin Office, Rajajinagar, Bangalore, 560044 India
- S. Rajaram, CHARME-India Project, Bangalore, India KHPT Office, IT Park 5th Floor, #1–4 Rajajinagar Industrial Area, Behind KSSIDC Admin Office, Rajajinagar, Bangalore, 560044 India
- Stephen Moses, Karnataka Health Promotion Trust, IT Park 5th Floor, #1–4 Rajajinagar Industrial Area, Behind KSSIDC Admin Office, Rajajinagar, Bangalore, 560044 India
- G. Chandrashekhar Gowda, Swasti-Health Resource Centre, Part of Catalyst Group, #19 1st Main, 1st Cross, Aswathnagar, R.M.V 2nd Stage, Bangalore, 560094 India
- R. Pushpalatha, Swathi Mahila Sangha, 52, 4th Main, Postal Colony, Sanjaynagar, Bangalore, 560094 India
- B. M. Ramesh, Karnataka Health Promotion Trust, IT Park 5th Floor, #1–4 Rajajinagar Industrial Area, Behind KSSIDC Admin Office, Rajajinagar, Bangalore, 560044 India
- Shajy Isac, Karnataka Health Promotion Trust, IT Park 5th Floor, #1–4 Rajajinagar Industrial Area, Behind KSSIDC Admin Office, Rajajinagar, Bangalore, 560044 India
- Marie-Claude Boily, Imperial College, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ UK
- Anil Lobo, Karnataka Health Promotion Trust, IT Park 5th Floor, #1–4 Rajajinagar Industrial Area, Behind KSSIDC Admin Office, Rajajinagar, Bangalore, 560044 India
- Hareesh Gowda, Swasti-Health Resource Centre, Part of Catalyst Group, #19 1st Main, 1st Cross, Aswathnagar, R.M.V 2nd Stage, Bangalore, 560094 India
- Michel Alary, Centre Hospitalier Affilié Universitaire de Québec, Unité de Recherche en Santé des Populations, Centre de Recherche du CHA de Québec, Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement, 1050 Chemin Ste-Foy, Quebec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada
- Journal AIDS and Behavior
- Online ISSN 1573-3254
- Print ISSN 1090-7165