Condom Use in Female Sex-workersม Ratchaburi, 1991

Abstract

An evaluation of 100% Condom Programme was done in Ratchaburi in 1991. All female sex-workers attending the Ratchaburi STD and AIDS Center were interviewed and checked for STD over a period of 12 months. From 6,490 interviews, it was found that condom utilization rate was 95.3% and the incidence of gonorrhea among sex- workers was remarkably decreased (9%, compared to 21% in 1990). In sex- workers who did not use condoms, the gonorrhea incidence was as high as 48.5% compared to 7% in the group that utilized condoms whose infections were due to condom breakage. The one main reason for not using a condom was the refusal of clients. The results of this study showed clearly that the 100% Condom Programme can be effective in promoting condom use and thus reducing the incidence of gonorrhea and probably other STDs including AIDS