Knowledge, attitudes and activities of male clients of female sex workers: risk factors for HIV.

AIMS

To examine HIV related knowledge, attitudes and practices amongst male clients of female sex workers in New Zealand.

METHODS

A sample of 30 clients were contacted in the commercial sex areas of the three main urban centres. A brief structured interview was undertaken by a fully trained interviewer who was herself a sex worker.

RESULTS

The respondents were aged between 20 and 60 and came from a range of occupations. A third of them were married. Most visited sex workers quite frequently and vaginal sex was the most common service purchased. Condoms were consistently used with sex workers whereas they were less commonly used with casual partners and almost never used with regular partners. Clients rarely carried condoms and took a passive role in their use with sex workers. Knowledge about HIV transmission was high but perception of HIV risk or fear of infection were low. Many of the respondents travelled both within and outside New Zealand and most used commercial sex services on their travels.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that clients may be a source of HIV infection of both sex workers and their other sex partners. More detailed research is necessary to explore clients' perceptions of HIV risk and the barriers to their wider use of condoms.