Underage youth trading sex in the Philippines: trafficking and HIV risk

Abstract

This study examines the socio-structural sexual health risks of female youth (aged 14–17) working in bar/spa venues and brothels in the Philippines, compared to their older counterparts. Aside from this study, few female sex work studies have interviewed youth under 18. On four southern Philippines islands, 770 female sex workers (FSWs), aged 14–48, were recruited from bar/spa venues and brothels to participate in a socio-structural HIV prevention study. Controlling for the effects of a larger HIV prevention intervention study involving 1484 female bar/spa workers, the minors, compared to older FSWs, had less education (AOR: 0.81, CI: 0.70–0.94), less children (AOR: 0.19, CI: 0.10–0.37), and were more likely to work in illegal brothels (AOR: 4.60, CI: 1.66–12.75) and to be high on drugs during sex (AOR: 2.26, CI: 1.39–3.67). It was less likely that anyone talked to them about HIV prevention (AOR: 0.32, CI: 0.15–0.72), but more likely they were recruited by venue owners (AOR: 5.67, 1.56–20.56) and were told by their managers to have sex without a condom (AOR: 6.80, CI: 2.06–22.39). Results suggest a need for organizational and policy level interventions to protect adolescent females from working in unsafe environments in the Philippines and to prevent youth from being recruited into high-risk situations.

Keywords:

• youth
• trafficking
• HIV
• sex trade
• Philippines

Acknowledgment

We extend appreciation to our co-investigator, the late Dr. Teodora Tiglao; research manager, Charlie Mendoza; site coordinators, Dorcas Romen, Grace Carungay, Angelica Mallari, Mildred Publico, and Grace Ong.

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases [grant number R01-AI33845] and written with support from the National Institutes of Drug Abuse [grant number T32 DA023356], [grant number DA028692-04S1], and [grant number 1K01DA036439-01].

Additional information

Funding

Funding: This work was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases [grant number R01-AI33845] and written with support from the National Institutes of Drug Abuse [grant number T32 DA023356], [grant number DA028692-04S1], and [grant number 1K01DA036439-01].