Predictors of workplace sexual health policy at sex work establishments in the Philippines

Abstract

Based on the literature, we identified manager and establishment characteristics that we hypothesized are related to workplace policies that support HIV protective behavior.We developed a sexual health policy index consisting of 11 items as our outcome variable. We utilized both bivariate and multivariate analysis of variance. The significant variables in our bivariate analyses (establishment type, number of employees, manager age, and membership in manager association) were entered into a multivariate regression model. The model was significant (p<.01), and predicted 42) of the variability in the development and management of a workplace sexual health policy supportive of condom use. The significant predictors were number of employees and establishment type. In addition to individually-focused CSW interventions, HIV prevention programs should target managers and establishment policies. Future HIV prevention programs may need to focus on helping smaller establishments, in particular those with less employees, to build capacity and develop sexual health policy guidelines.

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by grant R01-AI33845 from the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to Donald E. Morisky and two predoctoral training grants in the Social and Behavioral Determinants of HIV/AIDS Prevention, from the UCLA Graduate.