Objective

To explore factors associated with trafficking (deceptive/coercive entry to sex trade) among female bar/spa entertainers who traded sex in the Philippines.

Method

Female bar/spa entertainers who traded sex in the past 6months were recruited from 25bar/spa venues in Metro Manila (April 2009-January 2010) and assessed via cross-sectional survey data collection for HIV-risk-related socio-structural factors associated with deceptive/coercive entry into the sex trade. The study employed hierarchical linear modeling.

Results

Of 166bar/spa entertainers assessed, 19 (11.4%) reported being deceived/coerced (i.e. trafficked) into their first jobs. Trafficking history was independently associated with current drug use (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.05; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00-3.97) decreased availability of condoms at venues for entertainers (AOR 0.18; 95% CI 0.05-0.71) and, conversely, increased peer support for practicing safer sex behaviors (AOR 3.08; 95% CI 1.63-5.09). Those deceived/coerced into their positions were more likely than non-trafficked women to have been recruited by an agency who came to their rural province (AOR 12.07; 95% CI 1.77-82.25) as opposed to getting the job from advertisement (AOR 0.10; 95% CI 0.02-0.65) or a friend/acquaintance (AOR 0.02; 95% CI 0.00-0.48).

Conclusion

The findings have implications for designing interventions to prevent and target trafficked women in the Philippines who may be more vulnerable to substance use and, potentially, HIV infection.

Background

Social and structural influences of condom negotiation among female sex workers (FSWs) remain understudied. This study assesses environmental and individual factors associated with condom negotiation among FSWs at high risk for acquiring HIV in a large urban setting of Metro Manila, Philippines.

Methods

Female bar/spa workers (N = 498), aged 18 and over, underwent interview-led surveys examining their sexual health practices in the context of their risk environments. Data were collected from April 2009-January 2010 from 54 venues. Multiple logistic regressions were conducted to assess socio-behavioral factors (e.g., age, education, length of time employed as an entertainer, and alcohol/drug use) and socio-structural factors (e.g., venue-level peer/manager support, condom rule/availability, and sex trafficking) associated with condom negotiation, adjusting for individuals nested within venues.

Results

Of 142 FSWs who traded sex in the previous 6 months (included in the analysis), 24% did not typically negotiate condom use with venue patrons. Factors in the physical environment--trafficked/coerced into work (AOR = 12.92, 95% CI = 3.34-49.90), economic environment--sex without a condom to make more money (AOR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.01-2.30), policy environment--sex without a condom because none was available (AOR = 2.58, 95% CI = 1.49-4.48), and individual risk--substance use (AOR = 2.36, 95% CI = 1.28-4.35) were independently associated with FSWs' lack of condom negotiation with venue patrons.

Conclusions

Factors in the physical, economic, and policy environments, over individual (excepting substance use) and social level factors, were significantly associated with these FSWs' condom negotiations in the Philippines. Drawing upon Rhodes' risk environment framework, these results highlight the need for policies that support safer sex negotiations among sex workers in the context of their risk environments. Interventions should reduce barriers to condom negotiation for FSWs trafficked/coerced into their work, substance using, and impacted by economic conditions and policies that do not support condom availability.