The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #45473

Donald Morisky, ScD¹, Alfonso Ang, PhD¹, Teodora V. Tiglao, PhD², Tsai Tzui, MPH¹, and Astou Coly, MPH³. (1) Department of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, CHS 26-070, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, (2) University of the Philippines, College of Public Health, Taft and Redro Gil, Manila, Philippines, (3) Epidemiology, University of California at Los Angeles School of Public Health, Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772

The purpose of this research is to validate the results of a community-based intervention study designed to promote safer sexual practices among sex workers in the Philippines. The stigma often accompanied with risky behavior may cause respondents to under-report or lie about practices that put them at risk. This study assesses the reliability of a self-reported condom use scale, and validates these findings with clinical STD diagnosis for commercial sex workers (N=1383) in the Philippines. A short version of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSDS) was used to assess social desirability and its relationship to measures of condom use behavior. The MCSDS and questions to assess HIV risk behaviors were administered to all individuals employed as “receptionists or entertainers” in various indirect commercial sex establishments, such as bars, nightclubs, disco house, karaoke centers and massage parlors.

Overall, there was no relationship between social desirability and the sex workers' self report on condom use. The reliability of the condom use scale is 0.81, and the chi-square and other fit indices in confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the data fit the model well, supporting the measurement model for condom use. Results were further validated with reports from clinical STD diagnosis. Sex workers who report being consistent condom users had significantly lower rates of STI compared to those who never use a condom (t=7.79, p < 0.01). These results suggest a need to test the validity of condom use measures in order to better assess the effects of community based intervention studies.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participants in this session will be able to

• Identify the extent of condom use among sex workers in different types of establishments;
• Identify various threats to validity of self-reported measures of condom use,
• List socio-environmental factors significantly predictive of condom use behavior.

Keywords: HIV Risk Behavior, Public Health Education and Health Promotion

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.