SEX UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL AND DRUGS AMONG FEMALE SEX WORKERS IN IRAN

Background and Aim : Alcohol and drug use before sexual contacts could increase these risks of HIV and STIs for female sex workers (FSW). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk determinants related to alcohol and drug use before or during sexual relationship among Iranian FSWs in last month.Methods : From January to August 2015, 1337 FSWs were recruited using facility-based sampling from 21 centers in 13 cities. We used a standard questionnaire for collecting necessary data using face-to-face interview. Participants were tested to determine HIV status. Among them 1373 FSWs, 815have the eligibility criteria and entered to the analysis. To analysis the data, we used logistic regression to determine the association between sex under influence of drugs.Results : The mean (SD) age of the participants were 34.8 (8.8). Around three quarters of them were more than 30 years old. Majority of them educated as high school or higher (60.3%), divorced or widow (46.9%), had monthly income less than 300$ (89.8%) and also 80.8% of participants reported have the experience of HIV testing ever. The prevalence of sex under the influence of drugs and alcohol was 43.6% (95% confidence interval (CI): 40.2-47.1). Prevalence of HIV 2.5% (CI: 1.6-3.9). Associated factors of alcohol and drug use before or during sexual relationship were: age group less than 30 (Adjusted OR (AOR):3.67, 95% CI: 2.0,6.4; p-value<0.001), having monthly income more than 300 USD (AOR: 2.29, 95% CI: 1.1-4.7, P-value:0.024), anal sex in last month (AOR: 2.52, 95% CI: 1.4-4.4, <0.0001), having sex with more than one client in last working day (AOR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.1-3.3, P-value:0.009), don’t having non-paying sexual partner during last month (AOR: 5.45, 95% CI: 2.7-13.1, P-value:0.011) and selling sex as the only way of monetization (AOR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.1-2.5, P-value: 0.006) were significantly related to drug abuse before or during sexual relationship in last month among them Conclusion : according to the point that sex under influence is common between FSWs and it can increase the risk of HIV and STIs among them, policy makers need to develop specific programs for FSWs

Keywords:

alcohol , drug abuse , FSW , Iran