The prevalence of HIV in Nigeria is high and rising. Sex
workers have a high risk of contracting and spreading the
disease and are often the target of public health interventions
aiming to increasing condom use. What factors influence the use
of condoms by sex workers?
Researchers with Population Services International surveyed
2,578 sex workers living in brothels in Nigeria. They examined
the relationship between several variables and consistent use of
condoms. They also considered factors that contribute to
'self-efficacy' - a sex worker's belief in her ability to insist
that clients use condoms.
The researchers gathered information about condom use during
the past five sexual encounters. They found that:
- Sex workers are more likely to report consistent condom
use if they are older, live in urban areas and have been
exposed to two or more sources of publicity about available
brands of condoms.
- AIDS is a worry for 81 percent of sex workers but only
55 percent report consistent condom use in their last five
sex acts.
- Among sex workers who usually ask all clients to use
condoms, 76 percent report consistent condom use, compared
with only eight percent of those who do not request condom
use by all clients.
- Those in the south-east of the country and in urban
areas are most likely to ask all clients to use condoms.
- More than three-quarters of women who have been sex
workers for less than a year say they ask all clients to
wear condoms, compared with only 61 percent of those with
three or more years of sex work experience.
- Sex workers with regular partners or clients are less
likely to report consistent condom use.
- Those who know about modes of HIV transmission are more
likely to ask all their clients to use condoms.
Health policy-makers developing interventions to improve the
consistency of condom use among sex workers should:
- use multiple communication channels to improve condom
brand awareness
- focus outreach efforts and health information on modes
of HIV transmission and consequences of infection
- investigate the factors underlying regional and other
variations in the consistency of condom use.
Source(s):
‘Consistent condom use among sex workers in Nigeria’ by M.
Oladosu and O. Ladipo, PSI Research Division Working Paper 39,
Population Services International, Washington DC (2001)
Funded by: UK Department for International Development
id21 Research Highlight: 23 November 2001
Further Information:
Muyiwa Oladosu or Olaronke Ladipo
Population Services International
1120 19th Street, NW
Suite 600
Washington, DC
20036 USA
Tel: +1 202 785-0072
Fax: +1 202 785-0120
Contact the contributor:
generalinfo@psiwash.org
Population Services
International
Other related links:
Search
the UNAIDS site for epidemiological data and other information.
Take a look
at AIDS Action - a newsletter on AIDS prevention and care from
Healthlink Worldwide.
The WHO's
Department of HIV/AIDS also provides lots of relevant
information.
This site provides more
information on AIDS and Africa.
