AIDS knowledge and risky sexual behaviors among registered female sex workers in Turkey

Aim: To evaluate AIDS knowledge and risky sexual behaviors of registered female sex workers during their obligatory periodic examination in the Department of Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Hospital.Materials and methods: A questionnaire composed of items on socio-demographic features and knowledge levels on HIV/AIDS, its transmission routes, and risky sexual behaviors was administered via face to face interviews.Results: One hundred four sex workers were included in the study. Higher educated ones had more knowledge on AIDS, its transmission routes, and risky behaviors (P ≥ 0.05, P ≤ 0.001, P ≤ 0.05). While those with more customers had more knowledge on AIDS (P ≤ 0.05) and transmission routes (P ≤ 0.01), those with regular customer numbers had scored higher on transmission routes and risky behaviors (P ≤ 0.05 and P ≤ 0.05, respectively). Higher monthly income indicated higher levels of knowledge on routes of information (P ≤ 0.05). Women pre-informed on AIDS and who scored higher on both routes of transmission (P ≤ 0.01) and knowledge on transmission routes (P ≤ 0.05, P ≤ 0.01) yielded higher lubricant usage at each intercourse and condom checking.Conclusion: The study indicated the deficiencies in the transmission of gained knowledge to those who need the most – sex workers. Therefore, obligatory education programs must be revised to enable HIV (+) sex workers’ contribution to the training environment in the short and long term objectives.