HIV RISK BEHAVIORS AMONG DOMINICAN BROTHEL AND STREET PROSTITUTES IN NEW-YORK-CITY

Latina women are overrepresented among AIDS cases in the United States , To assist in developing appropriate prevention and intervention prog rams, information regarding HIV risk behaviors is needed on the many d iverse Latina subgroups. This study examined sociodemographic characte ristics and HIV risk behaviors of Dominican female prostitutes, compar ing those who worked primarily in brothels with those who were street workers. A total of 77 Dominican prostitutes (54 brothel; 23 street) w ere recruited in New York City to participate in a structured intervie w and were offered HIV testing. Ethnographic interviews were conducted with a subscale. Results indicated that there were many significant d ifferences in demographics and risk behaviors between the two groups, and those working in brothels engaged in lower levels of risk behavior s. In addition, those working in brothels had closer ties to the Domin ican and Spanish cultures, Implications for AIDS prevention efforts ar e discussed.