132 Annual Meeting Logo - Go to APHA Meeting Page  
APHA Logo - Go to APHA Home Page

Does family role or work policy matter to using condoms for Filipina sex workers: A multilevel perspective?

Chi Chiao, MSc, MPH, Department of Community Health Sciences, UCLA School of Public Health, Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, 310-794-9889, chichiao@msn.com and Donald Morisky, ScD, 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.

While women's social role has been demonstrated to be associated with their general physical and mental health, little is known about its effect on health behaviors, particular in sexual health-related behaviors. According to the work-family conflict model, this study examines the relative impact of individual family and work roles and work policy on the likelihood of risky sexual behaviors such as non-condom use among 1256 Filipina sex workers (FSWs). Non-condom use was measured with two 5-point Likert items. Social role occupancy among the sex workers was conceptualized into four categories: 1) single, living alone, 2) single living with own children, 3) living with family or partner, and 4) living with own children and family or partner. Information concerning condom use policy was obtained from 101 establishment. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to estimate associations adjusted for the effects of potential confounders at individual- and establishment-level. The findings showed 46% of the total variance in condom use behavior occurred between establishments (p<.0001). Supportive work regulation was significantly positively associated with using condoms over and above individual attributes. Controlling for the establishment effect of work policy and individual sociodemographic characteristics such as age, education and weekly wage, we also found FSWs who were single mothers reported about 21% greater mean of using condoms compared to single sex workers (p<.05). These results highlight the importance of establishment-based policy. But, risky sexual practice may be contingent upon both individual attributes and organizational policy.

Learning Objectives:

Keywords: Sexual Risk Behavior, Sex Workers

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.

Sex Workers: Voluntary and Forced

The 132nd Annual Meeting (November 6-10, 2004) of APHA