title: HIV risks and HIV prevention among female sex workers in two largest urban settings in Croatia, 2008-2014.
abstract: Harm reduction-based HIV prevention has been in place among female sex workers (FSWs) in Croatia for more than a decade. However, little is known about how well the existing programs meet the needs of FSWs in an environment where sex work remains criminalized and highly stigmatized. This study aims to assess changes in FSWs' vulnerability to HIV infection in the 2008-2014 period. Using convenience samples of FSWs in Croatia's two largest urban settings, behavioral data were collected in 2007-2008 and 2014. Outreach workers interviewed 154 FSWs in the first wave of the survey and 158 in the second. The period under observation was characterized by a stable prevalence of most HIV-relevant risk behaviors and experiences. Significant changes in client-based victimization and HIV knowledge were observed only among FSWs in the capital city. Substantial and mostly sustained levels of sexual and nonsexual victimization call for more research into the limits of the current behavior-based harm reduction approach to HIV prevention in the country.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences , University of Zagreb , Zagreb , Croatia.
authors.forename: Aleksandar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Štulhofer
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Landripet
authors.forename: Jasmina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Božić
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Božičević
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D040261:Harm Reduction; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011477:Sex Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D060386:Sex Workers / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Croatia; HIV prevention; HIV risk; female sex workers