Factors Influencing the Non-Usage of Condoms by Female Sex Workers and their Clients in Hyderabad - A Cross Sectional Study

In India, total number of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) is 2.31 million and 21% of them reside in the state of Andhra Pradesh1. The prevalence continues to be high among high risk group population in Andhra Pradesh in spite of several programmatic interventions 2, 3..It was reckoned that some behavioral factors are impeding the HRGs to avail the services specially usage of condoms. Therefore, this study was planned to identify behavioral factors of HRGs especially FSWs and their clients, responsible for low usage of condoms.

A cross sectional study was performed. Primary data was obtained from FSWs and their clients by visiting 6 hotspots in Hyderabad district of Andhra Pradesh. Simple random sampling technique was applied and 100 FSWs & 145 clients were selected for the study. The data was entered on MS Excel and was analyzed using SPSS version 16 software.

It is observed that 60% of FSWs (n=100) have considerable amount of knowledge on STIs and 98% know about the correct usage of condoms. However, it is found that 68% of FSWs (n=100) fail to use condoms with Regular Partners (RP) because of demand by RP for direct skin-to-skin contact (Penis-Vagina), trust on RP and violence & forced sex by RP. It was also observed that 61% FSWs (n=100) fail to use condoms with non-regular partner (NRP) as NRPs demand skin-to-skin touch and sometimes indulge in violence & forced sex. Similarly, analysis of clients of FSWs response showed that reasons for non-usage of condoms for RP and NRP - FSWs were force by the FSWs, forgot condoms in hurry, more pleasure with skin- to-skin contact and trust on FSWs. 58% (n=100) of FSWs responded that sometimes poor quality of condoms also prompted them for non-usage of condoms.

Awareness camps on condom usage and STI/HIVs should be arranged for the clients of FSWs and adequate and quality condoms need to be supplied.