AEGiS-15IAC: Profile of the sexual workers in Cali, Colombia city.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Profile of the sexual workers in Cali, Colombia city.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. C10328)

Lopez Avendano JJ, Gutierrez MF
Fundacion Vivir Mejor, Cali, Colombia

BACKGROUND: A survey is design in order to characterize the sexual workers in the city of Cali, that can be used as an evaluation tool in a project aimed to structure an intervention plan in ITS/AIDS for the population involved in prostitution.

METHODS: A questionnaire is developed, from the experience gained in previous questionnaires on KABP. The survey is done to a sample of 147 women working in stationary places.

RESULTS: More population of young women (47% between 20 and 24 years old) and single mothers (51% of the population that informs having children are in the 20 to 24 years old range); extensive working hours (43% work the 7 days an 53% more than 8 hours a day); serving from 3-4 clients daily; low affiliation to the social security system (48% non affiliated) and half attendance to the health institutions (52.4%). Risk of ITS/AIDS predictive variables: low use of the condom with the sexual partner (38%); drug use along with the client as part of the service (24.8%); liquor consumption (39.8%). High condom use for vaginal penetration and in oral sex done to the client.

CONCLUSIONS: The survey was useful to proof and stablish the predictive variables for the risks already mentioned, to define the population of sexual worker women in stationary sites and other important aspects to the formulation of an intervention plan, and to highlight a regular compliance with established health norms.

Keywords: AEGIS, Prostitution, Sexual Behavior, Condoms, Sexual Partners, Condoms, Female, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Safe Sex, Data Collection, Cities, Questionnaires, Evaluation Studies, Population, Colombia, Humans, Female, Child, manpower

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C10328