Awareness about ways of prevention of HIV/AIDS was however lower. A total of 71% truck drivers, 66% truck helpers and 61% stationary workers had said that consistent condom use could prevent AIDS while 42% truck drivers, 36% truck helpers and 43% stationary workers had said that avoiding casual sex could prevent AIDS.
Other findings
A total of 11% truck drivers, 6% truck helpers and 4% stationary workers had said that they were approached by NGO staff for awareness on AIDS prevention during the preceding year.
Sexual health
At least 95% male respondents had said that they did not have genital ulcer or genital discharge during the preceding year. Two percent truck drivers and truck helpers each had reported having had genital discharge and genital ulcer each while 1% had said that they had both the symptoms. Only 1% stationary workers had said that they either had genital discharge, or genital ulcer of both these symptoms.
Among the male respondents who had reported genital discharge or genital ulcer, 29% truck drivers, 26% truck helpers and 15% stationary workers had said that they had taken treatment at a government facility, whereas 24%, 17% and 33% truck drivers, truck helpers and stationary workers respectively had reported to have taken treatment at a private clinic or hospital. Thirty-four percent truck drivers, 51% truck helpers and 28% stationary workers had said that they had taken medicines directly from a pharmacy.
Alcohol and drug use
A total of 56% truck drivers had said that they had consumed alcohol during the preceding month, of which 17% of them had reported daily alcohol consumption.
Key findings of highway FSWs
Demographic information
Age profile: The median age of FSWs at all-India level was 26 years. Thirty percent of them were aged 21-25 years while 33% of them were in the age group of 26-30 years.
Marital status: A total of 72% FSWs had said that they were married, and 23% were reportedly living with spouse and 6% were living with other sexual partner. Twenty-four percent FSWs had said that they were neither married nor living with a sexual partner.
Literacy status: Fifty-nine percent FSWs had said that they were illiterate while 28% had stated that they had studied up to Class V.
Behavioural indicators
The median age at first sex among FSWs was 16 years. A total of 49% of them had said that they had their first sex between 14-16 years while 37% had said that it was between 17-20 years. The median age at first commercial sex was 20 years. A total of 39% and 32% of the FSWs had said that their first commercial sex was in the age group of 17-20 years and 21-25 years respectively.
Type of sexual partners
The median number of sexual partners reported by the FSWs during the preceding week was 12. Twenty-five percent FSWs reported having had 7-10 different partners where as 21% had said that they had 11-15 different partners. A total of 35% of them had reported having more than 15 different partners during the preceding week (Figure 4).
Among the paying partners during the preceding week, 90% FSWs had said that they had sex with truck drivers, 55% had reported having truck helpers as clients while 47% of them had said that their clients included mechanics and other stationary workers. Thirty-four percent FSWs had said that they also had sex with non-paying partners during the same week. Such partners were mainly spouses and also included live-in partners, police, dhaba workers, truck drivers and stationary workers.
Reported condom use
When asked about the condom use with a paying client during the preceding month, 52% FSWs had said that they had used it every time, 19% had reported its use almost every time while 21% had said that they had used it sometimes (Figure 5).
Just as among male respondents, the proportion of FSWs reporting condom use during the last sex was higher than consistent condom use during the preceding month. A total of 76% had said that their clients had used condoms during the last sex.
Knowledge indicators
Awareness about HIV/AIDS was higher than the awareness about STIs. A total of 87% FSWs had said that they had heard about HIV/AIDS while 73% gave a similar response for STIs.
