Skip to main content
PMC home page
American Journal of Public Health logoLink to American Journal of Public Health
. 1993 Jan;83(1):79–83. doi: 10.2105/ajph.83.1.79

Risk factors associated with HIV infection among male prostitutes.

K W Elifson 1, J Boles 1, M Sweat 1
PMCID: PMC1694529  PMID: 8417612

Abstract

OBJECTIVES. This study documents the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted disease seroprevalence rate for male prostitutes, identifies the risk factors for HIV, and provides baseline information for the development and implementation of appropriate prevention and intervention strategies. METHODS. Structured interviews were conducted with and blood samples were collected from 235 actively working male prostitutes in Atlanta, Georgia, from July 1988 through July 1991. RESULTS. The HIV seroprevalence was 29.4%; 25.1% of the sample had seromarker for syphilis and 58.3% for hepatitis B. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed the following significant HIV risk factors: history of receptive anal sex with nonpaying partners, serologic history of hepatitis B or syphilis, and history of childhood physical abuse. CONCLUSIONS. The reported seroprevalence rates among these male prostitutes indicate they are a high-risk group. The striking difference in HIV seroprevalence by sexual orientation may warrant special attention. Considering the public health consequences, there is a clear need for innovative HIV prevention and intervention among these men.

Full text

PDF
79

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Coates R. A., Calzavara L. M., Read S. E., Fanning M. M., Shepherd F. A., Klein M. H., Johnson J. K., Soskolne C. L. Risk factors for HIV infection in male sexual contacts of men with AIDS or an AIDS-related condition. Am J Epidemiol. 1988 Oct;128(4):729–739. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a115026. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Cortes E., Detels R., Aboulafia D., Li X. L., Moudgil T., Alam M., Bonecker C., Gonzaga A., Oyafuso L., Tondo M. HIV-1, HIV-2, and HTLV-I infection in high-risk groups in Brazil. N Engl J Med. 1989 Apr 13;320(15):953–958. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198904133201501. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Coutinho R. A., van Andel R. L., Rijsdijk T. J. Role of male prostitutes in spread of sexually transmitted diseases and human immunodeficiency virus. Genitourin Med. 1988 Jun;64(3):207–208. doi: 10.1136/sti.64.3.207. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Darrow W. W., Echenberg D. F., Jaffe H. W., O'Malley P. M., Byers R. H., Getchell J. P., Curran J. W. Risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections in homosexual men. Am J Public Health. 1987 Apr;77(4):479–483. doi: 10.2105/ajph.77.4.479. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Earls C. M., David H. A psychosocial study of male prostitution. Arch Sex Behav. 1989 Oct;18(5):401–419. doi: 10.1007/BF01541972. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Ekstrand M. L., Coates T. J. Maintenance of safer sexual behaviors and predictors of risky sex: the San Francisco Men's Health Study. Am J Public Health. 1990 Aug;80(8):973–977. doi: 10.2105/ajph.80.8.973. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Elifson K. W., Boles J., Sweat M., Darrow W. W., Elsea W., Green R. M. Seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus among male prostitutes. N Engl J Med. 1989 Sep 21;321(12):832–833. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198909213211214. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Rosenberg M. J., Weiner J. M. Prostitutes and AIDS: a health department priority? Am J Public Health. 1988 Apr;78(4):418–423. doi: 10.2105/ajph.78.4.418. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Stamm W. E., Handsfield H. H., Rompalo A. M., Ashley R. L., Roberts P. L., Corey L. The association between genital ulcer disease and acquisition of HIV infection in homosexual men. JAMA. 1988 Sep 9;260(10):1429–1433. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Sterk C. Cocaine and HIV seropositivity. Lancet. 1988 May 7;1(8593):1052–1053. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(88)91868-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Tirelli U., Vaccher E., Bullian P., Saracchini S., Errante D., Bullian P., Zagonel V., Serraino D. HIV-1 seroprevalence in male prostitutes in northeast Italy. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 1988;1(4):414–415. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Zierler S., Feingold L., Laufer D., Velentgas P., Kantrowitz-Gordon I., Mayer K. Adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and subsequent risk of HIV infection. Am J Public Health. 1991 May;81(5):572–575. doi: 10.2105/ajph.81.5.572. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from American Journal of Public Health are provided here courtesy of American Public Health Association

RESOURCES