A methodological approach to improve the sexual health of vulnerable female populations: incentivized peer-recruitment and field-based STD testing.
BACKGROUND
Transactional sex has been associated with increased risk of adverse health outcomes, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs).


METHODS
Participants included female sex workers and men they recruited utilizing incentivized snowball sampling. Participants provided specimens for STI diagnostic testing and completed a semi-structured interview.


RESULTS
Forty-four participants aged 19-65 were interviewed. Participants found self-sampling to be acceptable and overwhelmingly endorsed sampling outside of a clinic (90%) for reasons such as convenience, privacy, and lack of stigma. A substantial minority (38%) tested positive for at least one STI.


CONCLUSIONS
Novel strategies may encourage sexual health care and prevent STIs among sex workers. High infection and screening acceptance rates across the sample suggests that individuals engaged in transactional sex would benefit from, and would be responsive to, community-based self-sampling for STI screening.
Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University School of Medicine, IN, USA. almroth@iupui.edu
Alexis M
AM
Roth
Joshua G
JG
Rosenberger
Michael
M
Reece
Barbara
B
Van Der Pol
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D018579:Patient Selection; D010379:Peer Group; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012309:Risk-Taking; D060386:Sex Workers / Q000523:psychology; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D035862:Vulnerable Populations; D055815:Young Adult