Objectives: This study described working conditions and behavioral and psychological factors associated with HIV risk behaviors among Asian women who work as sex workers in massage parlors in San Francisco. Methods: After mapping all 25 massage parlors in the targeted area, 12 massage parlor owners allowed the recruitment of study participants. Individual interviews using a structured questionnaire were conducted with 100 Asian masseuses. Results: Difficult work conditions among API masseuses included multiple sex partners daily, violence from customers and managers, economic pressures to engage in more commercial sex, and poor access to health care and services. Cognitive factors, including positive norms toward practicing safe sex, higher levels of AIDS knowledge, and fatalism, were associated with more condom use with customers. Conclusions. Interventions should address the occupational and cultural contexts in which Asian masseuses engage in sex work, and should focus on altering massage parlor policies.
Learning Objectives: 1) To learn HIV-related risk behaviors among Asian massage parlor workers in San Francisco. 2) To learn sociocultural factors which influence masseuses' behaviors. 3) To learn social and environmental factors which counselors and outreach workers can address during their prevention activities.
Keywords: HIV Risk Behavior, Immigrant Women
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.