Genital Tract Infections, Bacterial Vaginosis, HIV, and Reproductive Health Issues among Lima-Based Clandestine Female Sex Workers
Table 3
Knowledge of STI symptoms, self-reported symptoms, and response to symptoms; HIV testing history and treatment-seeking behaviors among 212 clandestine female sex workers: Lima, Peru, 2003.
N = 212
(%)
Knowledge of female symptoms of STIa
Lower abdominal pain
61
(28.8)
Vaginal discharge
147
(69.3)
Malodorous discharge
75
(35.4)
Burning pain while urinating
45
(21.2)
Genital ulcer
50
(23.6)
Swollen pelvic lymph nodes
1
(0.5)
Genital itching
70
(33.0)
Genital warts
42
(19.8)
Reported symptoms in past 12 months
Yellow vaginal discharge
160
(75.5)
Genital ulcer
25
(11.8)
Do not know
1
(0.5)
No symptoms reported
49
(23.1)
Both vaginal discharge and genital ulcer
162
(76.4)
Care seeking behaviors among 162 women who reported symptomsb
Sought help at a pharmacy
89
(54.9)
Sought help in public clinic
48
(29.6)
Took medicine available at home
13
(8.0)
Traditional healer
10
(6.2)
Sexual behaviors among 162 women who reported symptomsb
Told sex partner
67
(41.4)
Avoided sex
90
(55.6)
Used condoms with clientsc
140
(86.4)
Used condoms with stable partner
33
(20.4)
Know of an HIV testing sited
145
(68.7)
Had HIV test in the paste
153
(72.9)
Test taken voluntarilyf
133
(86.9)
Received HIV test results among all those who testedg
133
(86.9)
Received HIV test results following voluntary testingh
116
(87.2)
Months since last HIV testf
0–3 months
32
(20.9)
4–6 months
43
(28.1)
≥7 months
78
(51.0)
aParticipants were prompted to name any signs or symptoms they associated with STI. bParticipants were allowed to report more than one treatment-seeking behavior. cNo distinction made between casual and regular (caserito) client. dOne missing observation. eOne missing observation and one do not know response. fAmong 153 women who reported taking an HIV test in the past; women who took test voluntarily do not match all women who received HIV results. gThree required to take test did not know their results. hAmong 133 women who tested voluntarily.
