PROFESSIONAL HIV RISK-TAKING, LEVELS OF VICTIMIZATION, AND WELL-BEINGIN FEMALE PROSTITUTES IN THE NETHERLANDS

Professional HIV risk taking (nonconsistent condom use with clients) o f female prostitutes in The Netherlands is addressed within the contex t of (early) experiences with abuse, well-being, coping behavior; job satisfaction, and financial need. Data were gathered from 127 female p rostitutes on condom use, financial need, and professional attitude, a nd on experiences with violence and abuse, physical complaints, psycho social problems, and coping responses. Violent traumatic experiences w ere found to relate to more severe complaints and problems, and a high er frequency of emotion-focused coping strategies. A risk-taking prote ction style (as opposed to consistent condom use and selective risk ta king) appeared to be associated with more severe experiences with viol ence, both in childhood and in adult life, with more frequent dissocia tion as a coping behavior and with more psychosomatic complaints. Of a ll the relationships found, more severe experiences with violence on t he job were most strongly related to a higher professional HIV risk