{
  "abstract": "Background Few studies have examined the sexual practices of female sex workers (FSWs) outside of their sex work and their association with the detection of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This study aimed to investigate the annual trends in the number of non-work sexual partners and condom use among FSWs and their association with STIs.Methods We conducted a repeated cross-sectional study of FSWs attending a sexual health clinic in Melbourne for the first time between January 2011 and December 2020. Data on sexual practices with non-work male and female sexual partners, condom use and STI diagnoses among FSWs were extracted.Results Of the 3075 FSWs included in the analysis, 70% (n=2167) reported having non-work sexual partners in the past 12 months, 66% (n=2041) reported having non-work male sexual partners, 20% (n=608) reported having non-work female sexual partners and 18% (n=556) reported having both non-work male and female sexual partners. From 2011 to 2020, the proportion of FSWs who had non-work casual male sexual partners increased from 37% (115/315) to 61% (69/113) (p trend<0.001). Condomless sex with non-work casual male sexual partners increased from 43% (50/115) to 67% (46/69) (ptrend<0.001). The positivity of any STIs increased from 5% (16/312) to 13% (14/110) (ptrend<0.001). Multivariable analyses showed that FSWs who had condomless sex with non-work casual male sexual partners had higher odds of having any STIs (adjusted OR 1.41; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.95) compared with those who consistently used condoms with these sexual partners.Conclusion Our study highlights a shift in the sexual practices of FSWs outside of sex work, in line with the trends observed in the general population. These changes may contribute to changes in STI transmission dynamics in this population. Overall, we found that the STI positivity in FSWs is low.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, The Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia",
        "School of Translational Medicine, Monash University Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Ei T Aung"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, The Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia",
        "School of Translational Medicine, Monash University Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Chatnapa Yodkitudomying"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, The Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia",
        "School of Translational Medicine, Monash University Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Christopher K Fairley"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, The Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia",
        "School of Translational Medicine, Monash University Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Tiffany Phillips"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, The Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia",
        "School of Translational Medicine, Monash University Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia",
        "Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics,Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Lenka Vodstrcil"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, The Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia",
        "School of Translational Medicine, Monash University Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia",
        "Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics,Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Catriona S Bradshaw"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, The Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia",
        "School of Translational Medicine, Monash University Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Marcus Y Chen"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, The Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia",
        "School of Translational Medicine, Monash University Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia",
        "Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics,Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Eric P F Chow"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Sexually transmitted infections and sexual practices with non-work partners, among female sex workers attending a sexual health clinic in Melbourne, 2011-2020",
  "uid": "fb0644c1-ab3d-5304-9152-59f4c64996ff"
}