Table 2 Risk behaviours and risk reduction measures reported by sex workers in Rawalpindi and Abbottabad
Female sex workersMale sex workers
BanthaKhotkiKhusra
Number of participants540278368269
    Rawalpindi431195364253
    Abbottabad10983416
Sexual debut
Mean (SD) age at first sex (years)16.6 (3.6)14.1 (2.9)13.4 (2.2)13.3 (2.4)
    <1210 (1.9%)41 (15%)69 (19%)51 (19%)
    12/15198 (37.6%)165 (60%)239 (65%)181 (67%)
    16/17139 (26.4%)49 (18%)52 (14%)31 (11%)
    18+180 (34.2%)21 (8%)8 (2%)8 (3%)
First sex was forced27 (5%)36 (13%)36 (10%)50 (18%)
Mean (SD) age difference with first sex partner (years)6.9 (5)9.2 (8.5)9.3 (8)11.9 (10)
Sexual risk
    Mean (SD) number of years in sex work13.9 (6.7)6.7 (4.4)8.5 (5.3)12.5 (6.3)
    Mean (SD) number of clients in past week5.5 (3.6)3.2 (2.3)4.8 (2.9)7.0 (6.4)
    Mean (SD) number of new clients in past week1.7 (1.4)1.8 (2)2.0 (3)4.0 (3)
0 = 46 (8%)0 = 56 (20%)0 = 46 (13%)0 = 34 (13%)
1 = 251 (47%)1 = 78 (28%)1 = 40 (11%)1 = 36 (13%)
2+ = 241 (45%)2+ = 142 (51%)2+ = 282 (77%)2+ = 201 (74%)
    Mean (SD) number of non-paying partners in past year (excluding gyria)Not asked1.6 (3.5)0.8 (1.6)0.6 (1.2)
Risk reduction
    Used condom in last vaginal sex with client205/536 (38%)NANANA
    In last month always used condom during vaginal sex with client63/526 (12%)NANANA
    Used condom in last anal sex with client99/162 (61%)65/278 (23%)114/368 (31%)68/272 (25%)
    In last month always used condom during anal sex with clientNA29/278 (10%)28/368 (8%)11/272 (4%)
    Used condom in last oral sex with client59/109 (54%)4/64 (6%)25/168 (15%)16/103 (16%)
    Used condom in last sex with husband/gyria240/517 (46%)0/634/125 (27%)7/108 (7%)
    In last month always used condom during sex with husband/gyria78/515 (15%)0/510/124 (8%)7/108 (7%)
    Condom with non-paying partner45/92 (49%)24/128 (19%)21/139 (15%)9/70 (13%)
Drug use
    Injected drugs in past year18/534 (3%)9/265 (3%)3/364 (1%)0 (0%)
    Had IDU sex partner(s) (past year)194/540 (36%)50/259 (19%)85/363 (23%)67/265 (25%)
    Had husband/gyria who is IDU (past year)140/504 (28%)0/273 (0%)2/366 (0.5%)5/261 (2%)
140/540 (26%)
    Uses other types of (non-injectable) drugsNot asked60/265 (23%)142/364 (39%)119/267 (45%)
    Drank alcohol in past month190/525 (36%)115/265 (43%)171/364 (47%)147/267 (55%)
  • IDU, injecting drug user; NA, not applicable.