IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/plo/pone00/0068043.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Are Female Sex Workers Able to Negotiate Condom Use with Male Clients? The Case of Mobile FSWs in Four High HIV Prevalence States of India

Author

Listed:
  • Shalini Bharat
  • Bidhubhusan Mahapatra
  • Suchismita Roy
  • Niranjan Saggurti

Abstract

Introduction: Condom promotion among female sex workers (FSWs) is a key intervention in India’s National AIDS Control Program. However, there is limited understanding of how FSWs negotiate condom use with male clients, particularly in the context of their mobility for sex work. The objective of this study is to examine the factors associated with the mobile FSWs’ ability to refuse unsafe sex and successfully negotiate condom use with unwilling male clients. Methods: Data for 5498 mobile FSWs from a cross-sectional survey conducted in 22 districts of four states in southern India were analyzed. Questions assessed FSWs’ ability to refuse clients unprotected sex, convince unwilling clients for condom use and negotiate condom use in a new location. Logistic regression models were constructed to examine the association between socio-demographics, economic vulnerability, sex work practice, and program exposure and condom negotiation ability. Results: A majority of FSWs (60%) reported the ability to refuse clients for unprotected sex, but less than one-fifth reported the ability to successfully convince an unwilling client to use a condom or to negotiate condom use in a new site. Younger and older mobile FSWs compared to those who were in the middle age group, those with longer sex work experience, with an income source other than sex work, with program exposure and who purchased condoms for use, reported the ability to refuse unprotected sex, to successfully negotiate condom use with unwilling clients and to do so at new sites. Conclusion: FSWs need to be empowered to not only refuse unprotected sex but also to be able to motivate and convince unwilling clients for condom use, including those in new locations. In addition to focusing on condom promotion, interventions must address the factors that impact FSWs’ ability to negotiate condom use.

Suggested Citation

  • Shalini Bharat & Bidhubhusan Mahapatra & Suchismita Roy & Niranjan Saggurti, 2013. "Are Female Sex Workers Able to Negotiate Condom Use with Male Clients? The Case of Mobile FSWs in Four High HIV Prevalence States of India," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(6), pages 1-8, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0068043
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068043
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0068043
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0068043&type=printable
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1371/journal.pone.0068043?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ghose, Toorjo & Swendeman, Dallas & George, Sheba & Chowdhury, Debasish, 2008. "Mobilizing collective identity to reduce HIV risk among sex workers in Sonagachi, India: The boundaries, consciousness, negotiation framework," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(2), pages 311-320, July.
    2. Patterson, T.L. & Mausbach, B. & Lozada, R. & Staines-Orozco, H. & Semple, S.J. & Fraga-Vallejo, M. & Orozovich, P. & Abramovitz, D. & De La Torre, A. & Amaro, H. & Martinez, G. & Magis-Rodríguez, C. , 2008. "Efficacy of a brief behavioral intervention to promote condom use among female sex workers in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 98(11), pages 2051-2057.
    3. Shannon, K. & Strathdee, S.A. & Shoveller, J. & Rusch, M. & Kerr, T. & Tyndall, M.W., 2009. "Structural and environmental barriers to condom use negotiation with clients among female sex workers: Implications for HIV-prevention strategies and policy," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 99(4), pages 659-665.
    4. Lianne A Urada & Donald E Morisky & Nymia Pimentel-Simbulan & Jay G Silverman & Steffanie A Strathdee, 2012. "Condom Negotiations among Female Sex Workers in the Philippines: Environmental Influences," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(3), pages 1-9, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Bidhubhusan Mahapatra & Monika Walia & Sangram Kishor Patel & Madhusudana Battala & Saradiya Mukherjee & Prachi Patel & Balakrishnan Subramanium & Yamini Atmavilas & Niranjan Saggurti, 2020. "Sustaining consistent condom use among female sex workers by addressing their vulnerabilities and strengthening community-led organizations in India," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(7), pages 1-17, July.
    2. Bidhubhusan Mahapatra & Ruchira Bhattacharya & Yamini Atmavilas & Niranjan Saggurti, 2018. "Measuring vulnerability among female sex workers in India using a multidimensional framework," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(9), pages 1-13, September.
    3. Ruth C Chang & Katie Hail-Jares & Huang Zheng & Na He & Jennifer Z H Bouey, 2018. "Mitigating circumstances: A model-based analysis of associations between risk environment and infrequent condom use among Chinese street-based sex workers," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(5), pages 1-15, May.
    4. Caitlin McLachlan & Tinashe Dune, 2020. "A Systematic Review of Factors Influencing Condom Use among Female Sex Workers," International Journal of Social Science Studies, Redfame publishing, vol. 8(5), pages 97-126, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Shirley J Semple & Jamila K Stockman & Eileen V Pitpitan & Steffanie A Strathdee & Claudia V Chavarin & Doroteo V Mendoza & Gregory A Aarons & Thomas L Patterson, 2015. "Prevalence and Correlates of Client-Perpetrated Violence against Female Sex Workers in 13 Mexican Cities," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(11), pages 1-15, November.
    2. Erin E Conners & Brooke S West & Alexis M Roth & Kristen G Meckel-Parker & Mei-Po Kwan & Carlos Magis-Rodriguez & Hugo Staines-Orozco & John D Clapp & Kimberly C Brouwer, 2016. "Quantitative, Qualitative and Geospatial Methods to Characterize HIV Risk Environments," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(5), pages 1-14, May.
    3. Jose L Burgos & Thomas L Patterson & Joshua S Graff-Zivin & James G Kahn & M Gudelia Rangel & M Remedios Lozada & Hugo Staines & Steffanie A Strathdee, 2016. "Cost-Effectiveness of Combined Sexual and Injection Risk Reduction Interventions among Female Sex Workers Who Inject Drugs in Two Very Distinct Mexican Border Cities," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(2), pages 1-15, February.
    4. Sherman, Susan G. & Lilleston, Pamela & Reuben, Jacqueline, 2011. "More than a dance: The production of sexual health risk in the exotic dance clubs in Baltimore, USA," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(3), pages 475-481, August.
    5. Eileen V Pitpitan & Shirley J Semple & Gregory A Aarons & Lawrence A Palinkas & Claudia V Chavarin & Doroteo V Mendoza & Carlos Magis-Rodriguez & Hugo Staines & Thomas L Patterson, 2018. "Factors associated with program effectiveness in the implementation of a sexual risk reduction intervention for female sex workers across Mexico: Results from a randomized trial," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(9), pages 1-17, September.
    6. Jennie Pearson & Sylvia Machat & Jennifer McDermid & Shira M. Goldenberg & Andrea Krüsi, 2023. "An Evaluation of Indoor Sex Workers’ Sexual Health Access in Metro Vancouver: Applying an Occupational Health & Safety Lens in the Context of Criminalization," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-15, January.
    7. Jessica McCann & Gemma Crawford & Jonathan Hallett, 2021. "Sex Worker Health Outcomes in High-Income Countries of Varied Regulatory Environments: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-16, April.
    8. Deanna Kerrigan & Andrea Wirtz & Stefan Baral & Michele Decker & Laura Murray & Tonia Poteat & Carel Pretorius & Susan Sherman & Mike Sweat & Iris Semini & N'Della N'Jie & Anderson Stanciole & Jenny B, 2013. "The Global HIV Epidemics among Sex Workers," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 12217, December.
    9. Pande Putu Januraga & Julie Mooney-Somers & Hailay Abrha Gesesew & Paul R Ward, 2020. "The Logic of Condom Use in Female Sex Workers in Bali, Indonesia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-12, March.
    10. Anna Vassall & Sudhashree Chandrashekar & Michael Pickles & Tara S Beattie & Govindraj Shetty & Parinita Bhattacharjee & Marie-Claude Boily & Peter Vickerman & Janet Bradley & Michel Alary & Stephen M, 2014. "Community Mobilisation and Empowerment Interventions as Part of HIV Prevention for Female Sex Workers in Southern India: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(10), pages 1-10, October.
    11. Schmidt-Sane, Megan, 2022. "Male partners of female sex workers: The intersectional risk environment of HIV/AIDS in a Kampala informal settlement," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).
    12. Lawrence A Palinkas & Claudia V Chavarin & Claudia M Rafful & Mee Young Um & Doroteo V Mendoza & Hugo Staines & Gregory A Aarons & Thomas L Patterson, 2015. "Sustainability of Evidence-Based Practices for HIV Prevention among Female Sex Workers in Mexico," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(10), pages 1-17, October.
    13. Lianne A Urada & Donald E Morisky & Nymia Pimentel-Simbulan & Jay G Silverman & Steffanie A Strathdee, 2012. "Condom Negotiations among Female Sex Workers in the Philippines: Environmental Influences," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(3), pages 1-9, March.
    14. Richardson, Lindsey & Wood, Evan & Kerr, Thomas, 2013. "The impact of social, structural and physical environmental factors on transitions into employment among people who inject drugs," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 126-133.
    15. José L Burgos & Julia A Gaebler & Steffanie A Strathdee & Remedios Lozada & Hugo Staines & Thomas L Patterson, 2010. "Cost-Effectiveness of an Intervention to Reduce HIV/STI Incidence and Promote Condom Use among Female Sex Workers in the Mexico–US Border Region," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(6), pages 1-10, June.
    16. Lianne A. Urada & Janie Simmons & Betty Wong & Kiyomi Tsuyuki & Gerlita Condino-Enrera & Laufred I. Hernandez & Nymia Pimentel Simbulan & Anita Raj, 2016. "A human rights-focused HIV intervention for sex workers in Metro Manila, Philippines: evaluation of effects in a quantitative pilot study," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 61(8), pages 945-957, November.
    17. Elena Argento & Shira Goldenberg & Melissa Braschel & Sylvia Machat & Steffanie A Strathdee & Kate Shannon, 2020. "The impact of end-demand legislation on sex workers’ access to health and sex worker-led services: A community-based prospective cohort study in Canada," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(4), pages 1-10, April.
    18. Ryan, Martha S. & Nambiar, Devaki & Ferguson, Laura, 2019. "Sex work-related stigma: Experiential, symbolic and structural forms in the health systems of Delhi, India," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 85-92.
    19. Andrea Mantsios & Catherine Shembilu & Jessie Mbwambo & Samuel Likindikoki & Susan Sherman & Caitlin Kennedy & Deanna Kerrigan, 2018. "‘That’s how we help each other’: Community savings groups, economic empowerment and HIV risk among female sex workers in Iringa, Tanzania," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(7), pages 1-16, July.
    20. Manian, Shanthi, 2021. "Conflict and risky health behavior: Evidence from Mexico's drug war," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0068043. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: plosone (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.