Document 0920
 DOCN  M94A0920
 TI    Gonorrhoea prevalence among Singapore sex workers is associated with
       method of brothel reimbursement.
 DT    9412
 AU    Archibald CP; Chan RK; Yap CK; Goh CL; Dept. Community, Occupational and
       Family Medicine, National; University of Singapore.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(2):250 (abstract no. PC0364). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94371655
 AB    OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of the method of brothel keeper
       reimbursement on gonorrhoea prevalence rates among brothel-based female
       sex workers in Singapore. METHODS: Brothel-based sex workers in
       Singapore are tested for gonorrhea every two weeks. The prevalence of
       positive tests was calculated for each quarter of 1993 for brothels on
       four selected streets. These streets were chosen since they have
       different methods of brothel reimbursement, but are in the same area of
       the city and have sex workers with similar demographic profiles. On
       streets A (14 brothels, 174 sex workers) and B (7,101), the sex workers
       pay a flat rate for room rental; on streets C (20,117) and D (27,153),
       the sex workers pay a percentage of their earnings for each client seen.
       RESULTS: Greater than 90% of sex workers on each of these four streets
       were middle class (charging US $10-30 per client) and had no more than
       primary education. The mean worker ages for the four streets were
       similar (range 35-38 years). Anecdotal evidence suggests the client
       populations of these streets are similar. The prevalence (%) of positive
       gonorrhoea tests by street for 1993 are shown below (95% CI): TABULAR
       DATA, SEE ABSTRACT VOLUME. CONCLUSION: These preliminary data indicate
       that STD transmission within brothels may be influenced by aspects of
       brothel operating policy, in this case by the method of brothel
       reimbursement with higher rates in brothels that have a financial
       interest in each individual client. Although further work needs to be
       done to understand how this policy affects the sex worker-client
       interaction, these results suggest that educational and
       skills-reinforcing programmes for sex workers could be complemented by
       programmes aimed at brothel operating policy to enhance reduction of STD
       transmission in this setting.
 DE    Adult  Economics  Female  Gonorrhea/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/TRANSMISSION  Human
       Prevalence  *Prostitution  Singapore/EPIDEMIOLOGY  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).