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Prevalence and Correlates of Female Condom Use and Interest Among Injection Drug-Using Female Sex Workers in Two Mexico–US Border Cities

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Abstract

Little is known about female condom use among female sex workers who inject drugs (FSW-IDUs) in Northern Mexico, where HIV/STI prevalence is high. We examined the prevalence and correlates of female condom use and interest in female condom use among FSW-IDUs aged >18 years in Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico enrolled in a behavioral intervention designed to reduce high-risk sexual and injection behaviors. Of 621 FSW-IDUs, 8 % reported ever using female condoms, and 67.2 % expressed interest in trying female condoms. Factors independently associated with female condom use were having had a client become angry at the suggestion of using condoms and having engaged in unprotected vaginal sex with non-regular clients. Factors independently associated with interest in using female condoms were lifetime physical abuse and lifetime sexual abuse. Increasing the availability of female condoms and providing education on their use in the context of drug use and violence is recommended.

Resumen

Se sabe poco acerca del uso del condón femenino por parte de sexoservidoras usuarias de drogas inyectables (SS-UDIs) en el norte de México, donde la prevalencia del VIH/ITS es elevada. Analizamos la prevalencia y los factores relacionados con el interés en y el uso del condón femenino en SS-UDIs de >18 años en Tijuana y Ciudad Juárez, México inscritas en una intervención conductual diseñada para disminuir los comportamientos sexuales y del uso de jeringas de alto riesgo. De 621 SS-UDIs, el 8 % reportó alguna vez haber usado condones femeninos y el 67.2 % mostró interés en usarlos. El que el cliente se enoje al sugerir el uso de condones y el sexo vaginal sin protección con clientes no regulares fueron factores independientemente relacionados con el uso del condón femenino. El abuso físico y el abuso sexual a lo largo de su vida fueron factores independientemente relacionados con el interés en el uso de los condones femeninos. Se recomienda aumentar la disponibilidad del condón femenino y brindar educación sobre su uso en el contexto del uso de drogas y la violencia.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01 DA023877, T32 DA023356, R25 DA025571, K01 DA031593 and K01 DA026307) and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (L60 MD003701). The authors gratefully acknowledge the contributions of the study staff and participants of Mujer Más Segura and the following organizations: Patronato Pro-COMUSIDA, A.C., Prevencasa, A.C., Salud y Desarollo Comunitario de Ciudad Juárez, A.C. (SADEC), Federación Méxicana de Asociaciones Privadas (FEMAP), the Instituto de Servicios de Salud del Estado de Baja California (ISESALUD), and the University of California, San Diego. The authors thank the San Diego County Health Department for its assistance with STI and HIV testing. The authors also thank Brian R. Kelly and Serena Ruiz for their assistance on this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0849, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0849, USA

    Jamila K. Stockman, Meghan D. Morris & Alicia Vera

  2. SADEC-FEMAP, Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico

    Gustavo Martinez

  3. Prevencasa AC, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico

    Remedios Lozada

  4. Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0680, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0680, USA

    Thomas L. Patterson

  5. Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0849, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0849, USA

    Monica D. Ulibarri

  6. Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0507, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0507, USA

    Steffanie A. Strathdee

Authors
  1. Jamila K. Stockman
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  2. Meghan D. Morris
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  3. Gustavo Martinez
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  4. Remedios Lozada
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  5. Thomas L. Patterson
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  6. Monica D. Ulibarri
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  7. Alicia Vera
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  8. Steffanie A. Strathdee
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Correspondence to Jamila K. Stockman.

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Stockman, J.K., Morris, M.D., Martinez, G. et al. Prevalence and Correlates of Female Condom Use and Interest Among Injection Drug-Using Female Sex Workers in Two Mexico–US Border Cities. AIDS Behav 16, 1877–1886 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-012-0235-9

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