A Comparative Study of Condom Use and Self-Reported Sexually Transmitted Infections Between Foreign Asian and Local Clients of Sex Workers in Singapore

Abstract

We conducted a survey to compare condom use and its associated factors between foreign Asian and local clients of female sex workers in Singapore. A survey was conducted between 2001 and 2002 on a random sample of 810 clients (677 foreign Asian workers and 133 locals) recruited from the streets and outside the brothels in Singapore. Foreign clients were more likely than locals to be inconsistent condom users with sex workers. Clients from China reported the highest percentage of inconsistent condom use (29.2%) and sexually transmitted infections (16.7%) compared with 8.3% (P < 0.003) and 2.3% (P < 0.005), respectively, among locals. On multivariate analysis, inconsistent condom use among foreign clients increased significantly with the number of freelance sex workers. The reverse trend was found for local clients. There is a need to design separate condom-promotion programs for foreign Asian and local clients of sex workers in Singapore.