Actions of female sex workers who experience male condom failure during penetrative sexual encounters with clients in Cape Town: Implications for HIV prevention strategies
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Date
2017
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AOSIS
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Condom failure has always been found to coexist with condom usage, especially
among sex workers.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the actions of female sex workers when they are faced with situations
of condom failure.
METHODS: Using the survey design, the participants were selected through the snowball sampling
method. Their responses were obtained using a structured questionnaire. A total of 100
questionnaires were analysed.
RESULTS: With respect to the immediate actions of sex workers after condom failure, 36% of the
respondents continued with the sexual encounter after noticing that the condom was broken.
Another 36% stopped immediately when they noticed that the condom had failed, but replaced
the condom; 13% of the participants stopped the sexual encounter completely; 3% applied
vaginal spermicidal foam; and 5% of the respondents stopped immediately and took a douche
when they had the chance. For the actions within the next 24 hours of experiencing condom
failure with a client, 53% of the participants did nothing; 4% sought counsel from a professional;
3% of the respondents took alcohol or drugs to forget the incident, 25% went to the clinic for
assistance and 8% offered other responses.
CONCLUSION: While continuing the sexual encounter without replacing the condom, taking
alcohol and drugs or doing nothing could increase the risk of contracting HIV; however,
actions like stopping the sexual encounter completely and visiting a clinic or a professional
could make a difference between staying HIV negative or seroconverting. There is a need for
targeted intervention to address issues of inappropriate behaviours after experiencing condom
failure.
Description
Keywords
HIV prevention, Female sex workers, Penetrative sex, Condom failure
Citation
Mukumbang, F.C. (2017). Actions of female sex workers who experience male condom failure during penetrative sexual encounters with clients in Cape Town: Implications for HIV prevention strategies. Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine, 18(1): a698