Social and cultural contexts of female sex workers in Karnataka,

[Guest guest]

Understanding the social and cultural contexts of female sex workers

in Karnataka, India: implications for prevention of HIV infection.

J Infect Dis 2005 Feb 1;191 Suppl 1:S139-46 (ISSN: 0022-1899)

Blanchard JF; O'neil J; Ramesh BM; Bhattacharjee P; Orchard T; Moses

S

Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba,

Winnipeg, Canada. E-mail: james_blanchard@....

BACKGROUND: The objective of the present study was to compare the

sociodemographic characteristics and sex work patterns of women

involved in the traditional Devadasi form of sex work with those of

women involved in other types of sex work, in the Indian state of

Karnataka.

METHODS: Data were gathered through in-person interviews. Sampling

was stratified by district and by type of sex work.

RESULTS: Of 1588 female sex workers (FSWs) interviewed, 414 (26%)

reported that they entered sex work through the Devadasi tradition.

Devadasi FSWs were more likely than other FSWs to work in rural

areas (47.3% vs. 8.9%, respectively) and to be illiterate (92.8% vs.

76.9%, respectively). Devadasi FSWs had initiated sex work at a much

younger age (mean, 15.7 vs. 21.8 years), were more likely to be home

based (68.6% vs. 14.9%), had more clients in the past week (average,

9.0 vs. 6.4), and were less likely to migrate for work within the

state (4.6% vs. 18.6%) but more likely to have worked outside the

state (19.6% vs. 13.1%). Devadasi FSWs were less likely to report

client-initiated violence during the past year (13.3% vs. 35.8%) or

police harassment (11.6% vs. 44.3%).

CONCLUSION: Differences in sociobehavioral characteristics and

practice patterns between Devadasi and other FSWs necessitate

different individual and structural interventions for the prevention

of sexually transmitted infections, including human immunodeficiency

virus infection.