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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Psychosocial pathways to inconsistent condom use among male sex workers: personality, drug misuse and criminality

Fernanda C. Prado Cortez A B E , Douglas P. Boer A C and Danilo A. Baltieri A B D E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Interdisciplinary Group of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs of the Psychiatric Institute of the Clinical Hospital, Department of Psychiatry of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-903, Brazil.

B Ambulatory for the Treatment of Sexual Disorders of ABC Medical School, Santo André, São Paulo 09060-650, Brazil.

C School of Psychology, The University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand.

D Penitentiary Counselling of the State of São Paulo, Avenida Brigadeiro Luis Antonio, 554, 8° Andar, Bela Vista, São Paulo 01318-000, Brazil.

E Corresponding authors. Email: cestaro.f@gmail.com; dbaltieri@uol.com.br

Sexual Health 8(3) 390-398 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH10136
Submitted: 25 October 2010  Accepted: 5 April 2011   Published: 17 August 2011

Abstract

Background: This research compared street male sex workers in Santo André, Brazil, that reported consistent condom use with those that revealed inconsistent condom use with their clients, concerning personality aspects, impulsiveness, alcohol and drug consumption, depressive symptoms, sociodemographic data and criminal involvement. Methods: Eighty-six male sex workers were evaluated in face-to-face interviews at their place of work. A ‘snowball’ sampling procedure was used to access this hard-to-reach population. Findings: Male sex workers with inconsistent condom use showed greater involvement with criminal activities, higher reward dependence level and more frequent self-report of being HIV-positive. Conclusions: Conceptualisation of male sex workers’ psychological characteristics may be required where HIV risk is not only attributed to sex work per se, but to other aspects such as personality-related factors and negative identity.

Additional keywords: Brazil, HIV risk behaviour, men who have sex with men, prostitution.


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