Behavioral surveillance and factors associated with condom use and STD incidences among the male commercial sex client population in Hong Kong - Results of two surveys

The present study compared the results of behavioral surveillance data obtained on the male clients of female sex workers (FSWs) population in Hong Kong. Two surveys, using an identical method, were completed in 1998 and 2000. Respectively, 1,020 and 2,074 respondents aged 18-60 who were randomly selected from the general population participated in the study. About 12% of the respondents had patronized FSWs in the past 6 months in 2000 as compared with 14% in 1998 (p =.143). Crossing the border for sex and purchasing sex in multiple geographic areas was very common and a higher percentage of respondents reported having patronized FSWs in mainland China in 2000 than in 1998 (p =.003). About 25% of the respondents in both surveys had not always been using condoms (i.e., not used condoms every time) when having sexual intercourse with FSWs. Those who practiced commercial sex in mainland China were less likely to have always been using condoms with FSWs (p <.01) and were more likely to have ever contracted STD in the past 6 months (p <.05), when compared with those who had purchased sex only in Hong Kong or in other places.