AEGiS-11IAC: Prostitutes: their HIV/AIDS knowledge and condom use.

11th International AIDS Conference

Vancouver, British Columbia — July 7-12, 1996

Prostitutes: their HIV/AIDS knowledge and condom use.

Int Conf AIDS 1996 Jul 7-12; 11:458 (abstract no. Pub.C.1125)
Smith CD, Lockett G, Bala M; California Prevention & Education Project (Cal-PEP), Oakland, CA. Fax: (510) 839-6775. E-mail: maur102@wonder.em.cdc.gov.

OBJECTIVE: This presentation reports the findings of a knowledge, attitudes, and behavior survey among street prostitutes. The survey was conducted in two San Francisco Bay Area Counties: Alameda and San Francisco.

METHODS: The survey was administered to street prostitutes in San Francisco and Oakland. Street Outreach was the primary intervention. Clients were encouraged to enroll in more extensive and intensive HIV prevention education. Workshops and Support Groups were held in the streets, at community gathering places, in a mobile center (R.V.), in client's homes, in jails, and at work furlough programs.Findings: Baseline data were collected by Cal-PEP Outreach Workers between October and December 1992. Respondents correctly answered HIV/AIDS knowledge questions between 79% and 97%. Of the 39 respondents, 38% reported having unsafe sex while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, 56% reported exchanging sex for money, 57% reported using condoms with their intimate sexual partners, and 61% reported using condoms with sexual customers.

DISCUSSION: Prostitutes have a high level of HIV/AIDS knowledge and continue to engage in unsafe sexual behavior. This points to the need for continued prevention intervention and assessment of behavior.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Prostitution, Condoms, HIV Infections, Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, HIV Seropositivity, Knowledge, Condoms, Female, Data Collection, HIV Seronegativity, San Francisco, Human, immunology, ICA11

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