title: Falling through the cracks: contraceptive needs of female sex workers in Cambodia and Laos.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Condom is the only method promoted for dual protection among female sex workers (FSWs) in most Asian countries, which may be insufficient to prevent pregnancies given FSWs' high frequency of sexual intercourse.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained from independent cross-sectional surveillance surveys conducted in Cambodia and Laos. Random samples of FSWs provided behavioral information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Respondents numbered 592 in Cambodia and 1421 in Laos. In Cambodia, 28.2% had abortions in the past year despite reporting 99.0% condom use at last commercial sex. Abortion increased with the number of clients, inconsistent condom use, recent condom breakage and recent forced unprotected sex with clients. In Laos, 26.0% of all FSWs had ever aborted as had 89.4% of those who had been pregnant in the past 6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FSWs experience higher frequency of abortion than women from the general population. FSWs' reportedly high rate of condom use is insufficient to prevent pregnancies.
authors.affiliation: Family Health International, Asia/Pacific Regional Office, Bangkok, Thailand. gmorineau@fhi.org
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morineau
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Neilsen
authors.forename: Sopheab
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heng
authors.forename: Chansy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Phimpachan
authors.forename: Dyah E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Mustikawati
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002160:Cambodia; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007812:Laos; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011477:Sex Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult