Commercial sex workers'condom use behavior in Korea.
OBJECTIVE
With the continuous spread of the AIDS virus and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) throughout Asia, it has become imperative for HIV/AIDS prevention outreach programs to stress the need for using prophylactics as one form of protection. This is particularly true for commercial sex workers. This pilot study was conducted to investigate the rate of condom use among the commercial sex workers in Korea and reasons why they frequently do not wear condoms during sexual intercourse.


METHODS
Fifty female commercial sex workers who worked in the Yong San area were recruited while outreach was performed and forty eight responses were analyzed due to two incomplete questionnaires. The data were collected on June 28, 2004 as part of an outreach program for condom use promotion.


RESULTS
The subjects ranged in age from 21 to 45 years. Nearly half of the subjects (47.9%) did not consistently use condoms. The major reason for not using protection was clients' reluctances for using condoms. When condoms were used, the subjects preferred lubricant-rich and less painful condom during intercourse.


CONCLUSIONS
Due to the inconsistent use of condoms, it is clear that many commercial sex workers and clients are susceptible to sexually transmitted diseases. Therefore, it is important to not only educate commercial sex workers, but also to educate their pimps and clientele about the importance of condom use. In general, it is recommended that practical strategies and a policy for condom use promotion be developed.
Shin
Surin
S
AIDS Programs at the Korean Alliance to Defeat AIDS.
Kang
Hee Sun
HS
Chang
Soon-Bok
SB
D000328:Adult; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006291:Health Policy; D006293:Health Promotion; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012309:Risk-Taking; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012736:Sex Education; D011477:Sex Work / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors