Predictors of sexual risk reduction among Mexican female sex workers enrolled in a behavioral intervention study.
OBJECTIVE
We recently showed efficacy of an intervention to increase condom use among female sex workers (FSWs) in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez, situated on the Mexico-United States border. We determined whether increases in condom use were predicted by social cognitive theory and injection drug user status among women randomized to this intervention.


METHODS
Four hundred nine HIV-negative FSWs aged >or=18 years having unprotected sex with clients within the prior 2 months received a brief individual counseling session integrating motivational interviewing and principles of behavior change (ie, HIV knowledge, self-efficacy for using condoms, and outcome expectancies).


RESULTS
Increases in self-efficacy scores were associated with increases in percent condom use (P = 0.008), whereas outcome expectancies were not. Female sex workers who inject drugs (FSW-IDUs) increased condom use with clients but not to the same extent as other FSWs (P = 0.09). Change in HIV knowledge was positively associated with change in percent condom use among FSW-IDUs (P = 0.03) but not noninjection drug users.


CONCLUSIONS
Increases in self-efficacy significantly predicted increased condom use among FSWs, consistent with social cognitive theory. Increased HIV knowledge was also important among FSW-IDUs, but their changes in condom use were modest. Enhanced interventions for FSW-IDUs are needed, taking into account realities of substance use during sexual transactions that can compromise safer sex negotiation.
Strathdee
Steffanie A
SA
Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0680, USA.
Mausbach
Brent
B
Lozada
Remedios
R
Staines-Orozco
Hugo
H
Semple
Shirley J
SJ
Abramovitz
Daniela
D
Fraga-Vallejo
Miguel
M
Torre
Adela de la
Ade L
Amaro
Hortensia
H
Martínez-Mendizábal
Gustavo
G
Magis-Rodríguez
Carlos
C
Patterson
Thomas L
TL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D011477:Sex Work; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult