Abstract
Objective: Sex exchange is a well-established risk factor for HIV infection. Little is known about how correlates of sex trade differ by biologic sex and whether length of homelessness is associated with sex trade. We conducted a cross-sectional study among a sample of 1,148 homeless and marginally housed individuals in San Francisco to assess correlates of exchanging sex for money or drugs. Key independent variables included length of homelessness; use of crack, heroin or methamphetamine; HIV status; and sexual orientation. Analyses were restricted by biologic sex. In total, 39% of women and 30% of men reported a lifetime history of sex exchange. Methamphetamine use and greater length of homelessness were positively associated with a history of sex trade among women, while heroin use, recent mental health treatment, and homosexual or bisexual orientation were significantly associated with sex trade for men. Crack use was correlated with sex trade for both genders. Correlates of sex trade differ significantly according to biologic sex, and these differences should be considered in the design of effective HIV prevention programs. Our findings highlight the critical need to develop long-term services to improve housing status for homeless women, mental health services for homeless men, and drug treatment services for homeless adults involved in sex work.
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Acknowledgement
This study was funded by the National Institutes of Health grants R01 DA15605, RO1 MH54907, and T32 MH19105.
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Weiser, Dilworth, and Neilands are with the Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, USA. Cohen, Bangsberg, and Riley are with Epidemiology and Prevention Interventions (EPI) Center, Division of Infectious Diseases, San Francisco General Hospital, UCSF; Bangsberg is with the Positive Health Program, San Francisco General Hospital, UCSF.
The Epidemiology and Prevention Interventions Center, Positive Health Program and Center for AIDS Prevention Studies are programs of the UCSF AIDS Research Institute.
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Weiser, S.D., Dilworth, S.E., Neilands, T.B. et al. Gender-specific Correlates of Sex Trade among Homeless and Marginally Housed Individuals in San Francisco. JURH 83, 736–740 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-005-9019-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-005-9019-0