title: A study of men who pay for sex, based on the Norwegian national sex surveys.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence, time trends and factors associated with paid sex among men.
  
  
  METHODS
  Norwegian Sex Surveys using similar questions in 1992, 1997 and 2002 were analyzed using a cohort analysis and logistic regression. The questionnaires included demographic background, and several aspects of sexual behaviour. The following questions on paid sex were included: ''Have you ever paid for sexual services?'' ''If yes, how many times?'', ''How old were you the first time?'', ''How old were you the last time?'', and ''Did you use a condom the last time?''
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 4,545 men who answered this question, 585 (12.9%) reported ever having paid for sex. There was a marked decline overall in reporting from 26.2% in the cohort born in 1927-34, to 5.9% in the cohort born in 1975-84 (p < 0.001). However, there was an increase in the last cohort after the age of around 23 years (p = 0.1). Having paid for sex was significantly associated with being single, being on a disability pension, early sexual debut and having multiple other sex partners; these men were less likely to use condoms when having sex with a cohabiting partner (p < 0.01) and more likely to have had a sexually transmitted infection (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Having paid for sex is associated with high risk sexual behaviour and represents a public health problem. Preventive measures should address men's behaviour across social groups and marital status and explore the trend among younger men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, N- 7489 Trondheim/Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St Olavs University Hospital, N 7006 Trondheim, Norway. berit.schei@ntnu.no
authors.forename: Berit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schei
authors.forename: Hein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stigum
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017280:Condoms; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D011477:Sex Work / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult