Sexual, Behavioral, and Social Characteristics of Female Sex Workers and Their Risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections: In South Korea

This study calculated the sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevalence rates among female sex workers (FSWs) in South Korea and elucidated the social and behavioral risk factors that affect FSW's infection with STIs. FSWs were recruited using a multistage cluster probability sampling method (N = 1,073). STI prevalence rates were 9.8 % for Treponema pallidum, 2.6 % for gonorrhea, and 12.5 % for Chlamydia. The risk probability of STI infection was higher for participants with fewer social relationships (OR = 0.99), more suicide attempt experiences (OR = 1.36), lower frequency of condom use (OR = 0.81), lower self-efficacy (OR = 0.78), and more irregular STI examination experiences (OR = 0.69). The STI prevalence rates of FSWs in South Korea were lower than those of FSWs in other Southeast Asian nations. While the direct factors for STI prevalence among this population were related to safe sex, indirect factors such as social support were also significant. Because this affects the self-efficacy of isolated individuals among sex workers, preventive interventions in STIs among FSWs must be expanded to the promotion of social support and mental health programs.