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Characteristics of Female Sex Workers With US Clients in Two Mexico-US Border Cities

2008; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Volume: 35; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1097/olq.0b013e31815b0

1537-4521

Steffanie A. Strathdee, Remedios Lozada, Shirley J. Semple, Prisci Orozovich, Minya Pu, Hugo Staines‐Orozco, Miguel Fraga-Vallejo, Hortensia Amaro, Adela DeLaTorre, Carlos Magis‐Rodríguez, Thomas L. Patterson,

HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions

In Brief Background: HIV prevalence is increasing among female sex workers (FSWs) in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez, 2 Mexican cities on the US border. Quasilegal prostitution in both cities attracts large numbers of sex tourists. We compared FSWs with and without US clients in both cities. Methods: FSWs aged ≥18 years reporting unprotected sex with ≥1 client within the last 2 months, who were not knowingly HIV-infected, were enrolled in a behavioral intervention study. At baseline, participants underwent interviews, antibody testing for HIV and syphilis, and vaginal swabs for detecting gonorrhea and Chlamydia. Logistic regression identified factors associated with reporting >1 US client. Results: Of 924 FSWs, 69% had US clients. Median age and duration in sex work were 32 and 4 years. Prevalence of HIV, infectious syphilis (titer ≥1:8), gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and any STI was 6%, 14%, 6%, 13%, and 27%, respectively. Compared with other FSWs, FSWs with US clients were more likely to have syphilis titers ≥1:8 (16% vs. 10%, P = 0.01), gonorrhea (8% vs. 2%, P 250 clients in the last 6 months, having syphilis titers ≥1:8, and injecting drugs. Conclusions: In these border cities, FSWs reporting US clients were more likely to have current STIs and to engage in higher-risk behaviors. Intensified binational prevention efforts involving both FSWs and their clients are urgently needed. In 2 Mexican-US border cities, female sex workers reporting US clients were more likely to inject drugs, have high syphilis titers, and be paid more for unprotected sex, compared with those without US clients, indicating potential for cross-border transmission.