title: Sexual and health behaviour of commercial sex workers in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
abstract: In this paper, examined are the sexual and health behaviours of commercial sex workers in Nigeria, a high-risk group in this era of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic. The aim is to provide in-depth knowledge of their sexual networking and the prevalence rate of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). This analysis is intended to highlight their implications in the spread and control of AIDS and HIV infection. The results of the study show the extensive sexual networking of these commercial sex workers, the health implications, and the utilisation of nonorthodox health services in diagnosing STDs. The implications of these results are the likely drain on the limited health resources of the Nigerian government and the harmful effects on the women, fetuses, children, and other sexual partners of clients of these commercial sex workers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. francisci@uniben.edu.ng
authors.forename: F I
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Asowa-Omorodion
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D015995:Prevalence; D011902:Rape / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D011477:Sex Work / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population