Background In Burkina Faso, female sex workers (fsw) remain a core group for HIV transmission. Unfortunately fsw use condoms less consistently with their regular sex partners (RSP). Yet these RSP are not taken into account in interventions. Knowledge of their characteristics will help develop strategies to involve them in the fight against HIV. This study aimed to describe the sociodemographic and behavioural characteristics of RSP of fsw in Bobo-Dioulasso.

Methods The study included baseline data of the Yèrêlon cohort (fsw cohort) formed between December 2003 and March 2011. A standardised questionnaire was administered face to face to fsw to gather information on their RSP. Data were entered into Access and analysed with stata11.

Results We included 918 women (seaters, roamers, bar waitresses, sellers, cabarets and others). The median number of RSP pers fsw was 2 (range 0–5). These RSP were considered by the fsw as “boyfriends” (52.9%) and the relationship lasted less than a year (39.2%). They were of unknown age (62.5%), single (52.7%), national of Burkina Faso (94.9%), residing in Bobo (89.3%), travelling often (33.0%), using condoms consistently (28.4%). RSP of fsw had secondary or higher level of education (55.2%), and another regular sex partners (68.2%).

Conclusion In relation to these characteristics, we are all concerned. The RSP approach will be difficult. Due to their position as “bridge group” between fsw and the general population, a qualitative investigation is necessary with fsw to develop a targeted strategic approach.