Risks of AIDS among workers in the "sex industry": some initial results from a Scottish study.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the extent to which workers in the "sex industry" in Edinburgh engage in activities with a high risk of infection with HIV.

DESIGN

Cross sectional, single phase survey in which respondents were located by a non-random method ("snowballing").

SETTING

Research project coordinated by the Alcohol Research Group, Edinburgh.

SUBJECTS: 205 Sex workers (102 male, 103 female) interviewed between July and December 1988.

END POINT: Strategies to reduce risk of AIDS among people who buy and sell sexual services.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN

RESULTS

Data were elicited by a standardised interview which related to over 300 variables. A fifth of the study group had used drugs intravenously, and one in 12 reported that they had been found to be seropositive on HIV testing. Roughly a quarter of the study group sometimes engaged in unprotected sex with clients for more money, and a similar proportion sometimes did not seek medical advice even if they had genital or anal symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

People who buy and sell sexual services should be priority targets for health education and strategies to reduce their risk of AIDS.