76% of Mumbai sex workers don’t use condoms with husbands or partners, finds study

More than three-fourths of women sex workers who participated in a study said they did not use condoms while having sex with their husbands or partners.

More than three-fourths of women sex workers who participated in a study said they did not use condoms while having sex with their husbands or partners.

The authors of the paper said the findings indicate to a worrying trend, as the majority of the sex workers perceive non-paying sex to be safe. (Hindustan Times)

A hundred workers were interviewed for the study in December last year. It was conducted by researchers from School of Health Systems Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences’ (TISS). The findings were published in the ‘Journal of AIDS and HIV Research’ in January.

Non-paying partners here mean sex workers’ husbands, or live-in partners. 64% of the interviewed women said they had sex with their partners regularly.

The authors of the paper said the findings indicate to a worrying trend, as the majority of the sex workers perceive non-paying sex to be safe.

“This is particularly serious, given that 36% of the respondents said they are fully aware that their non- paying partners have other partners,” said Dr Adithyan GS, the lead author of the paper, who works as a Research Assistant in TISS.

“Women cited their desire for intimate and loving relationships as a key factor for not using condom,” Dr Adithyan said. He added that a bigger sample size was needed to to get a clear picture.

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