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Correlates of HIV and Inconsistent Condom Use Among Female Sex Workers in Ukraine

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Abstract

While female sex workers (FSWs) carry one of the highest risks of HIV transmission, little is known about predictors of HIV and risky behavior of FSWs in Ukraine. In this study of 4806 Ukrainian FSWs, the prevalence of HIV was 5.6 %. FSWs had higher odds to be HIV infected if they had lower income, were older, injected drugs, experienced violence, and solicited clients on highways. Inconsistent condom use with clients was reported by 34.5 % of FSWs. FSWs who solicited clients at railway stations, via media, through previous clients and other FSWs, and on highways reported lower consistency of condom use. Furthermore, inconsistent condom use was related to younger age, alcohol use, having fewer clients, not being covered with HIV prevention, and experiences of violence. The present study expands on the rather limited knowledge of correlates of the HIV and inconsistent condom use among FSWs in Ukraine.

Resumen

A pesar de que las trabajadoras del sexo (TDS) llevan uno de los mayores riesgos de transmisión del VIH, se sabe poco sobre los predictores de VIH y los comportamientos de riesg1o de las TDS en Ucrania. En este estudio de 4,806 TDS en Ucrania, la prevalencia del VIH fue el 5.6%. TDS tenían mayores probabilidades de ser infectados por el VIH si tenían ingresos más bajos, eran de mayor edad, se inyectaron drogas, con experiencia de la violencia, y solicitan los clientes en las carreteras. El uso inconstante de condones con sus clientes fue reportado por 34.5% de las TDS. TDS que reportaron solicitaron clientes en estaciones de tren, a través de medios de comunicación, a través de clientes anteriores y otras TDS, y carreteras reportaron menor uso sistemático del condón. Por otra parte, el uso inconstante de condones se relaciona con la menor edad, el consumo de alcohol, el hecho de tener menos clientes de sexo, no tener protección contra la prevención del VIH, y las experiencias de violencia. El presente estudio se expande sobre el escaso conocimiento de los correlatos de la epidemia del VIH y el uso inconstante de condones entre TDS en Ucrania.

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Acknowledgments

The study received the partial support of the project “M&E-related Technical Assistance and Improved Data Application in HIV” (METIDA), implemented by ICF “Alliance for Public Health in Ukraine” funded by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Publication process was partially supported by Fogarty International Center/NIH grants through the AIDS International Training and Research Program by SUNY-Downstate Medical Center (Grant #D43 TW000233).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, SUNY University at Albany, Rensselaer, NY, United States

    Olena P. Iakunchykova

  2. The Department of Social Work, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, USA

    Viktor Burlaka

Authors
  1. Olena P. Iakunchykova
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  2. Viktor Burlaka
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Correspondence to Olena P. Iakunchykova.

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Conflict of Interest

Author O. Iakunchykova declares that she has no conflict of interest. Author V. Burlaka declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in this study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The study protocol was approved by Commission of professional ethics of sociologist of Sociological Association of Ukraine and by Commission for medical ethics of Institute of Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases named after L.V. Gromashevsky of Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine.

Informed Consent

All respondents have signed the informed consent after the detailed description of the study purposes and procedure.

Human and Animals Rights

This article does not contain any studies with animals performed by any of authors.

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Iakunchykova, O.P., Burlaka, V. Correlates of HIV and Inconsistent Condom Use Among Female Sex Workers in Ukraine. AIDS Behav 21, 2306–2315 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-016-1495-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-016-1495-6

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