title: Socio-economic and demographic characteristics and HIV-1 infection among female commercial sex workers in Thailand.
abstract: To identify socio-economic and demographic factors related to prevalent HIV-1 infection among female commercial sex workers (CSW) in Thailand oral interviews and blood samples were taken from 800 female commercial sex workers in northern and southern Thailand during a cross-sectional survey in 1992. The overall HIV-1 prevalence rate was 22% and showed a statistically significant decrease from 36% when the age at start of commercial sex work was between 12 and 15 years old to 11% when the age at start was 21 years or over. Working in direct service, working in the north, not being Thai, lower education, having no children and having a debt to the employer were all related to an elevated risk for HIV-1 infection in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis younger age at start of commercial sex work, working in direct service, working in the north and having a debt to the employer were independently associated with prevalent HIV-1 infection. Prevention activities are urgently needed to prevent younger girls from entering sexual service business and to protect them from HIV 1 infection once they start working in the commercial sex service.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Municipal Health Service, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: van Griensven
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Limanonda
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chongwatana
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tirasawat
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Coutinho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011477:Sex Work; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology