Most research concerning clients of commercial sex workers CSWs relies upon CSW reports of client characteristics and behavior. A computer-assisted self-interview collected data on demographics and sexual behavior. There were significant site differencesโ In all cities, men who had sex with men and women versus sex with women only were more likely to have ever paid for sex.
In Tampa, older age was associated with being a CSW client but not education and marital status. CSW clients varied with respect to demographics across the three cities while the association between paying for sex and risky sexual behavior seems to be somewhat conserved. These findings suggest that interventions among CSW clients should focus on condom use with commercial and non-commercial partners as these men may be at increased risk for transmitting and acquiring sexually transmitted infections to and from their sex partners.
Better understanding of client characteristics is needed for targeting interventions and creating culturally appropriate content. Most research concerned with the public health impact of commercial sex work has been conducted among female commercial sex workers CSWs.
Much less is known about the clients of CSWs. The proportion of men who pay for sex varies within and between countries. Lifetime prevalence among European men varies by countryโ8.
The health outcomes of CSWs and their male clients are influenced by the sexual behavior that occurs during commercial and non-commercial sex encounters among both partners, yet researchโand interventionsโare focused predominantly among CSWs.
