TY - JOUR
T1 - Origins and working conditions of female sex workers in urban Thailand
T2 - Consequences of social context for HIV transmission
AU - Wawer, Maria J.
AU - Podhisita, Chai
AU - Kanungsukkasem, Uraiwan
AU - Pramualratana, Anthony
AU - McNamara, Regina
N1 - Funding Information:
The study of social origins and working conditions of female commercial sex workers serving Thai men in low-price urban locations is a component of behavioral research on sexual networks and their significance tbr HIV transmission throughout the general population of Thailand.* The study was undertaken to provide data for intervention programs that attempt to foster universal and unfailing use of condoms by partners of commercial sex workers and that encourage alternative work for *Behavioral Research for AIDS Prevention in Thailand (BRAIDS) is a collaborative study by the Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Thailand and the Center for Population and Family Health, Columbia University, U.S.A., funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Agency for Economic Development and the Rockefeller Foun-dation.
PY - 1996/2
Y1 - 1996/2
N2 - This paper examines the social origins and working conditions of selected female commercial sex workers in Thailand. Quantitative data gathered from 678 commercial sex workers (CSWs) in low-price brothels, tea houses and other work sites in three urban centers were supplemented by focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. The commercial sex establishments were selected from lists provided by local health officials. Social factors associated with entry into commercial sex work and condom use for sexual intercourse were investigated as they operate on contextual, intermediate and proximate levels. Women from the North region of Thailand predominated (68%) and they tended to be younger than the 27% from the Northeast. The majority of all women maintained financial ties to the home by sending income to parents, siblings and other relatives but this pattern is stronger among Northern women. Qualitative data suggest that women were systematically recruited into prostitution from villages in the North and their work enabled them to comply with traditional family support roles. Women from the Northeast revealed a more complex pattern of entry with intrafamily strife, divorce, efforts to find other employment, and entry into sex work at a later age than the women from the North. Northeastern women were more than twice as likely as Northern women to have had a husband as their first sex partner (55% vs 22%). The lives of CSWs were found to be tightly controlled by brothel owners and managers, although 8% were living with a husband or partner, and non-commercial sexual relationships in the month prior to interview were reported by up to 23%. Data indicate need for even more intensive education on HIV transmission, especially with respect to risk of transmission in the absence of AIDS symptoms. Appearance and a trusting relationship were the common reasons given for not using condoms. With the most recent client, 92% reported use if the client was not known and 70% reported use if the client had visited the same CSW three or more times. Education on HIV must take these attitudes and motivations into account as well as sanctions for brothel owners who do not enforce condom use. The proportion of Thai men who visit brothels in addition to other sexual partners, high rates of HIV among CSWs, and inconsistent use of condoms create a complex web that accelerates the spread of the HIV epidemic in Thailand.
AB - This paper examines the social origins and working conditions of selected female commercial sex workers in Thailand. Quantitative data gathered from 678 commercial sex workers (CSWs) in low-price brothels, tea houses and other work sites in three urban centers were supplemented by focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. The commercial sex establishments were selected from lists provided by local health officials. Social factors associated with entry into commercial sex work and condom use for sexual intercourse were investigated as they operate on contextual, intermediate and proximate levels. Women from the North region of Thailand predominated (68%) and they tended to be younger than the 27% from the Northeast. The majority of all women maintained financial ties to the home by sending income to parents, siblings and other relatives but this pattern is stronger among Northern women. Qualitative data suggest that women were systematically recruited into prostitution from villages in the North and their work enabled them to comply with traditional family support roles. Women from the Northeast revealed a more complex pattern of entry with intrafamily strife, divorce, efforts to find other employment, and entry into sex work at a later age than the women from the North. Northeastern women were more than twice as likely as Northern women to have had a husband as their first sex partner (55% vs 22%). The lives of CSWs were found to be tightly controlled by brothel owners and managers, although 8% were living with a husband or partner, and non-commercial sexual relationships in the month prior to interview were reported by up to 23%. Data indicate need for even more intensive education on HIV transmission, especially with respect to risk of transmission in the absence of AIDS symptoms. Appearance and a trusting relationship were the common reasons given for not using condoms. With the most recent client, 92% reported use if the client was not known and 70% reported use if the client had visited the same CSW three or more times. Education on HIV must take these attitudes and motivations into account as well as sanctions for brothel owners who do not enforce condom use. The proportion of Thai men who visit brothels in addition to other sexual partners, high rates of HIV among CSWs, and inconsistent use of condoms create a complex web that accelerates the spread of the HIV epidemic in Thailand.
KW - Commercial sex worker
KW - Condoms
KW - HIV
KW - Sexual behavior
KW - Thailand
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U2 - 10.1016/0277-9536(95)00150-6
DO - 10.1016/0277-9536(95)00150-6
M3 - Article
C2 - 8658239
AN - SCOPUS:0029668711
SN - 0277-9536
VL - 42
SP - 453
EP - 462
JO - Social Science and Medicine
JF - Social Science and Medicine
IS - 3
ER -