Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. We conducted a qualitative study of male sex work in St. Male sex work involves a variety of exchanges including expensive vacations, negotiated monetary amounts, or simply access to food.
Methods to find clients included the Internet, social venues e. Use of the Internet greatly facilitated male sex work in a variety of ways. It was used by both individuals and agencies to find clients, and appeared to be increasing.
Men often reported not being professionally connected to other male sex workers and limited disclosure about their work. Many were aware of the work-related risks to personal safety including violence and robbery by clients. Perceived risk for HIV was mostly abstract, and several exceptions to condom use with clients were noted. Alcohol use was reported as moderate but consumed frequently in association with work.
These data suggest that the most salient risks for male sex workers include professional isolation, threats to personal safety, limited perceived HIV risk, and sub-optimal levels of condom use. Little is known about the likelihood of HIV transmission among male sex workers, another potentially important vulnerable population.
The social, economic, and political changes that accompanied the transition in post-Soviet Russia were unprecedented, widespread, and accompanied by an increase in different forms of sex work Atlani et al,. This proliferation was in part an adaptive response to loss of previous income and facilitated by changing social norms that increased the supply side for sex work Levina et al.
