title: Immigration status and HIV-risk related behaviors among female sex workers in South America.
abstract: This study compares immigrant (i.e., foreigner) with non-immigrant (i.e., local/native) HIV-related risk behaviors among female sex workers (FSW) in South America. A total of 1,845 FSW were enrolled in Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Uruguay. According to their nationality, 10.1% of participants were immigrant FSW. Immigrant FSW were more likely to be younger in Argentina; to work in a disco/bar in Bolivia; to be single and use illegal drugs in Ecuador; and to work in a brothel, consume alcohol, and have sex with foreign clients in Uruguay. HIV-related sexual and drug use behaviors were more common among immigrant FSW in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Uruguay. Country-specific HIV/STI prevention and control programs should be developed for immigrant FSW populations in South America.
authors.affiliation: US Military HIV Research Program at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 1 Taft Court, Suite 250, Rockville, MD 20850, USA. cbautista@hivresearch.org
authors.forename: Christian T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Bautista
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mosquera
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gianella
authors.forename: Maria M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Avila
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Laguna-Torres
authors.forename: Jean K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.forename: Silvia M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Montano
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Sanchez
mesh_terms: D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D015497:HIV-1; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011477:Sex Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013020:South America / Q000453:epidemiology