%0 Journal Article
%T Reasons for non- use of condoms and self- efficacy among female sex workers: a qualitative study in Nepal
%A Laxmi Ghimire
%A W Cairns S Smith
%A Edwin R van Teijlingen
%A Rashmi Dahal
%A Nagendra P Luitel
%J BMC Women's Health
%D 2011
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1472-6874-11-42
%X This paper is based on a qualitative study of Female Sex Workers (FSWs) in Nepal. In-depth interviews and extended field observation were conducted with 15 FSWs in order to explore issues of safe sex and risk management in relation to their work place, health and individual behaviours.The main risk factor identified for the non-use of condoms with intimate partners and regular clients was low self efficacy. Non-use of condoms with husband and boyfriends placed them at risk of STIs including HIV. In addition to intimidation and violence from the police, clients and intimate partners, clients' resistance and lack of negotiation capacity were identified as barriers in using condoms by the FSWs.This study sheds light on the live and work of FSWs in Nepal. This information is relevant for both the Government of Nepal and Non Governmental Organisations (NGO) to help improve the position of FSWs in the community, their general well-being and to reduce their risks at work.Sex work is characterised by high rates of commercial sex partner exchange, low rates of consistent condom use [1] with regular partners (only 5.9%) and with last sex client (66.3%) [2]. The conditions and environment of sex work in South East Asia have not been well described, despite rising sexually transmitted infections (STI) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) incidence rates which are attributed to both sex work and drug use [3,4].Nepal is one of the least developed country, many people live in poverty and the country experiences considerable seasonal labour migration [5] mainly to India and the Middle East. Labour migrants to India constitute one of the 'bridging populations' for the transmission of STIs and HIV infection. One specific element of this labour migration is that Nepalese women end up working as Female Sex Workers (FSWs) in the big cities in India. It is estimated that some 200,000 Nepalese women work in the sex industry in India.Moreover, the conditions in which FSWs operate need to
%U http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6874/11/42