A medico-social appraisal of commercial sex workers in a metropolitan city from eastern India.
This cross-sectional study of 146 commercial sex workers (CSWs) selected by stratified sampling, in a red light area of Kolkata, showed that 25.3% were teenagers and 37.0% were forced into the profession due to poverty. White discharge was present in 42.5% of the CSWs. Only 65.1% had the proper knowledge of the causes of disease, but 49.3% preferred to go to "quacks" for treatment, while 42.5% preferred traditional medicine. Knowledge of the prevention of sexually transmitted infections by condom use was correct in 44.2% of the CSWs, but 17.8% used condoms regularly. One fourth of the CSWs having 5 or more clients per day used condoms regularly.
Mundle
Malay
M
Community Medicine, Bankura Sammilani Medical College, Kolkata, India. malaymundle@hotmail.com
Chatterjee
Sita
S
Haldar
Anima
A
Dobe
Madhumita
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D011477:Sex Work; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D014505:Urban Population