title: 'Part of the job': male-to-male sexual experiences and abuse of young men working as 'truck cleaners' along the highways of Pakistan.
abstract: As part of a study on the sexual health and social protection needs of men who have sex with men in Pakistan, 11 young men employed as assistants to truckers ('truck cleaners') who acknowledged having had sexual experiences with men, were interviewed and their social background and sexual initiation and their subsequent sexual lives were explored. For most truck cleaners, the first instance of sexual contact between the truck cleaner and the driver was forced and happened at an early age. Sex with other men, as well as with women (including sex workers) was widely reported. Drug and alcohol use was common. There is strong potential for HIV and STIs to spread through these sexual networks. Measures to prevent young men from entering into a career as truck helpers should be considered, as well as interventions to improve the health and social situation of those already employed.
authors.affiliation: a Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University , Melbourne , Australia.
authors.forename: Jan Willem
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: de Lind van Wijngaarden
authors.forename: Bettina T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Schunter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D010154:Pakistan; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology*; D011477:Sex Work / Q000523:psychology*; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Pakistan; men who have sex with men; rape; vulnerability; young men