An Effective HIV Risk-Reduction Protocol for Drug-Using Female Sex Workers

Abstract

Female sex workers are especially vulnerable to HIV infection, particularly those who use drugs and engage in street-based sex exchange. This study examines the risk behaviors and HIV serostatus of 806 drug-using female sex workers in Miami and assesses the relative impact of two HIV and hepatitis prevention interventions on changes in risk behavior. Drug-using sex workers were recruited using targeted sampling strategies and were randomly assigned to the NIDA Standard Intervention or an innovative Sex Worker Focused (SWF) Intervention. Outcome analyses indicate that both groups benefited from participation in the intervention trial. However, the SWF Intervention was found to be more efficacious in regard to reductions in unprotected oral sex and sexual violence.

KEYWORDS:

• drug use
• HIV interventions
• peer counselors
• sex workers
• sexual risk behaviors
• sexual violence

This Research was Supported by Department of Health and Human Services Grant #R01-DA013131 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Notes

Note. p values were calculated using t-tests for continuous variables, and chi-square tests for categorical variables; NIDA = National Institute on Drug Abuse; SWF = Sex Worker Focused.

∗n = 738 for hepatitis testing.

Note. ∗p ≤ .05; ∗∗p ≤ .01; ∗∗∗p ≤ .001.

p values were calculated using paired t-tests for continuous variables, and McNemar tests for categorical variables.

Note. ∗p ≤ .05; ∗∗p ≤ .01.