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Prevalence and Correlates of Condom Use and HIV Testing Among Female Sex Workers in Tashkent, Uzbekistan: Implications for HIV Transmission

AIDS and Behavior volume 11, pages 435–442 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Little is known about sex work in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, despite rapid increases in HIV infection. Consistent client condom use and prior HIV testing are described among 448 female sex workers (FSW) completing a self-administered questionnaire, health provider interview, and HIV testing between April 2003 and March 2004. Participants were recruited through outreach workers using modified snowball sampling. Consistent client condom use was more likely for FSW who were married, knew condoms prevent HIV, and from countries in south Central Asia. Prior HIV testing was less likely for FSW younger than 21 years, who shared drugs with clients, initiated sex work at 18 years or less and had engaged in sex work less than 2 years. Low rates of condom use, particularly by those with risky drug behaviors, indicate that targeted risk-reduction interventions are urgently needed.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the US Military HIV Research Program (USMHRP) at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), and by the US Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC), Silver Spring, MD (Work Unit Number 62787–873-HE0001). We would like to thank Dr. Adkham Mamatkulov and Mr. Ilkhom Kasymov for assistance in coordinating the study. We would also like to acknowledge Ms. Oksana Subotova for translation and database entry assistance. Finally, we would like to thank the participants for their time and trust. Disclaimer: The opinions and assertions made by the authors do not reflect the official position or opinion of the US Department of the Navy or Army, of the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., or of the respective in-country National HIV/AIDS Control Programs and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

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Affiliations

  1. Division of International Health and Cross-Cultural Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, 0622, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0622, USA

    Catherine S. Todd

  2. Ministry of Health, Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan

    Gulchaekra Alibayeva

  3. Republic of Uzbekistan Center for HIV/AIDS Control and Prevention, Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan

    Mumtaz M. Khakimov

  4. U. S. Department of Defense Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response System and Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Silver Spring, MD, USA

    Jose L. Sanchez

  5. Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Rockville, MD, USA

    Christian T. Bautista

  6. US Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3 (NAMRU-3), Cairo, Egypt

    Kenneth C. Earhart

Authors
  1. Catherine S. Todd
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  2. Gulchaekra Alibayeva
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  3. Mumtaz M. Khakimov
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  4. Jose L. Sanchez
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  5. Christian T. Bautista
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  6. Kenneth C. Earhart
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Catherine S. Todd.

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Todd, C.S., Alibayeva, G., Khakimov, M.M. et al. Prevalence and Correlates of Condom Use and HIV Testing Among Female Sex Workers in Tashkent, Uzbekistan: Implications for HIV Transmission. AIDS Behav 11, 435–442 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-006-9155-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-006-9155-x

Keywords

  • HIV
  • Commercial sex work
  • Behavioral risk factors
  • Uzbekistan
  • Female sex workers
  • Condom use