title: [Knowledge and use of contraceptive methods in female sex workers in Asturias [Spain]].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the knowledge and use of contraceptive methods among female sex workers in Asturias (Spain).
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a descriptive cross-sectional study of 212 female sex workers by means of a self-completed questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  61.2% of the women claimed to have sufficient information about contraceptive methods, although the real knowledge measured was much lower. Effective contraception was not used by 2.4% of the women in their last commercial relationship and by 20.4% in their private relationships. The most commonly employed method was the condom, but only 52.2% of the women who had used one in their previous commercial relationships did so together with another effective method. In the event of breakage, 40% of women did not have an attitude that would be effective in avoiding pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge about contraceptive methods among these women is lower than might be expected from their occupation. The use of another effective method together with the condom is insufficient to avoid unwanted pregnancies. Many of the women do not have an attitude that would be effective in avoiding pregnancy in the event of condom breakage.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud de La Felguera, Asturias, España. domingoelena@telefonica.net
authors.forename: Domingo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ojer Tsakiridu
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franco Vidal
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Varela Uría
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: López Sánchez
authors.forename: María Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Junquera Llaneza
authors.forename: Mar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cuesta Rodríguez
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Busto Folgosa
authors.forename: María Jesús
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fernández Ollero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted; D011477:Sex Work; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires