MALE PROSTITUTES AND SAFE SEX - DIFFERENT SETTINGS, DIFFERENT RISKS

Twenty-seven male prostitutes were interviewed extensively about their work and considerations relating to safe sex with clients. Important differences were found between street prostitutes and those working at home. Street-workers were more likely to be using hard drugs, to have a heterosexual preference, to have no other occupation, to have more clients, but less steady ones, and to have a more negative working att itude. Sexual techniques most often practised were manual and oral con tact; however, most prostitutes also practised either insertive or rec eptive anal intercourse. Homosexual male prostitutes reported more rec eptive anal intercourse than did their heterosexual male colleagues; b ut no such differences were found in insertive anal intercourse. Prost itutes were most likely to have had anal intercourse with steady clien ts, with clients whom they trusted regarding condom use, or with clien ts they felt sexually attracted to; and also when in dire need of drug s. Of those who had practised anal intercourse in the previous year, a minority had not consistently used condoms. The same factors that enc ourage anal intercourse also appear conducive to unprotected intercour se.