The Intersection between Sex Work and Reproductive Health in Northern Karnataka, India: Identifying Gaps and Opportunities in the Context of HIV Prevention
Table 1
Demographic characteristics and reproductive health indicators among female sex workers (FSWs) in Karnataka, India ().
Participant characteristics
%
95% CI
Age ≤25
457
45.2
38.9, 51.7
Unable to read or write
713
70.5
66.8, 74.0
Duration in sex work ≤1 year
171
16.9
14.1, 20.2
Devadasi
246
24.3
18.3, 31.7
Mobile*
359
35.5
30.5, 40.9
Rural
681
67.4
55.5, 77.3
Ever tested for HIV (outside of pregnancy)
953
94.3
92.4, 95.7
Ever had a long-term (noncommercial) partner
928
91.8
88.1, 94.4
Registered in pre-antiretroviral treatment centers (linked to HIV care after a positive HIV test)
68
6.7
4.9, 9.2
Reproductive health indicators
Ever pregnant
846
83.7
80.6, 86.4
Number of living children
None
253
25.0
21.1, 29.4
1–3
667
66.0
62.1, 69.7
>3
91
9.0
6.6, 12.2
Current contraceptive use**
None
128
12.7
10.4, 15.4
Oral hormone contraceptives
5
0.5
0.2, 1.2
Intrauterine device
3
0.3
0.0, 1.3
Condoms alone
418
41.4
35.8, 47.2
Tubal ligation
457
45.2
39.5, 51.1
Median number of pregnancies (range)
2 (0,9)
—
—
Number of pregnancies
Nulliparous
165
16.3
13.6, 19.5
Primiparous
251
24.8
21.5, 28.5
Multiparous
659
58.9
53.8, 63.7
≥1 pregnancy loss (spontaneous abortion or stillbirth)
191
18.9
16.2, 21.9
≥1 voluntary abortion
78
7.7
4.9, 12.0
Aware of methods to prevent mother to child transmission of HIV
235
23.2
20.0, 26.9
Adequate knowledge of methods to prevent mother to child transmission of HIV
65
6.4
5.0, 8.2
FSWs who also travel to a village or city outside their place of residence to conduct sex work. **The following methods (oral hormone contraceptives, intrauterine device, and tubal ligation) could include the use of condoms for contraception.
