HIV/AIDS risk-reduction options as predictor of female sex workers’ sexual behaviour

Abstract

Background: Sex workers are highly vulnerable to HIV infection and suitable transmission groups in the scope of the HIV epidemic. The study investigated the association among HIV/AIDS risk-reduction options as predictors of female sex workers’ behaviour. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional research design. The quantitative survey involved 140 women, who were selected using simple random sampling techniques. Results: The findings of the study show that looking for a job, disagreement in the family, death of parents, peer pressure, and attraction of town life were indicated as major pulling and pushing factors for sex worker engagement. The majority of respondents is aware of HIV/AIDS and practice HIV/AIDS risk-reduction options. Conclusion: Age, alcohol use, difficult to negotiate with clients to use condoms, and disapproval of clients to use condoms were significant predictors of consistent condom-using behaviours of female sex workers. This study recommended that life skills training and existing strategies enable sex workers to develop skills that help them resist the pressures that come from their clients.