title: Douching practices among female sex workers in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
abstract: Several studies indicate that douching has few benefits but numerous adverse health outcomes, including increased risk for sexually transmitted infections and HIV. No published study explores douching practices among Cambodian female sex workers. This report provides preliminary data about the prevalence and frequency of douching among female sex workers in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Survey data were obtained from 81 female sex workers who were taken into custody due to engagement in commercial sex from March to June 2011. Results showed that 91% of participants douched. The mean numbers of times douched before sex and after sex per 10 sex episodes were 4.43 (SD = 3.87) and 4.63 (SD = 3.94), respectively. Half of the participants thought that douching could help to prevent sexually transmitted infections including HIV; 24% were unsure about this. Usually, douching after sex was associated with ever obtaining an HIV test (p = .012) and was marginally associated (although not statistically significant) with a higher average number of clients per week (p =. 063) and consistent condom use with clients (p = .053). This suggests that these practices may be related to individual perceptions of sexually transmitted infections/HIV risk or susceptibility. Given the commonness of douching and related misperceptions among Cambodian female sex workers, future studies and interventions are needed to prevent adverse health problems.
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas - Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA thanh.c.bui@uth.tmc.edu.
authors.forename: Thanh Cong
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Bui
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics & Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas - Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Ly T H
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas - Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas - Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Markham
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002160:Cambodia; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D011477:Sex Work; D060386:Sex Workers; D044364:Vaginal Douching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: AIDS; Cambodia; HIV; Intravaginal cleansing; douching; female sex workers; sexually transmitted infections