Key findings of highway FSWs
Demographic information
Age profile: The median ages of FSWs in various zones were 28 years each in North and Central zones, 26 years each in East and West zones, 25 years in South zone and 24 years in North-East zone. More than 56% FSWs from various zones were in the age group of 21-30 years.
Marital status: The proportion of FSWs who had said that they were married was higher than those who had said that they were living with spouse or a sexual partner. For example, 85% FSWs in Central zone had stated that they were married but 46% of them were living with spouse or sexual partner at the time of the survey. Similarly, 63% FSWs in North-East zone were reported to be married but only 16% of them had said that they were living with either a spouse or a sexual partner.
Literacy status: The proportion of illiterate FSWs was higher in South zone (72%) and East zone (67%) as compared to other zones. It was lowest (48%) in North-East zone.
Behavioural indicators
Sexual history
The median ages at first sex among FSWs were 16 years each in North, West and Central zones and 15 years each in East, South and North-East zones. The median ages at first commercial sex were 21 years each in North and South zones, 18 years in East zone, 20 years each in West and North-East zones and 23 years in Central zone. Majority of the FSWs had reported first commercial sex between the age of 17-25 years (Table 8).
Number of different sexual partners
The median number of different sexual partners during the week before the survey was highest (27) in South zone and lowest (8) in North-East zone. In the South zone, 50% FSWs had said that they had more than 25 different sexual partners during the same week while 44% of them in North-East zone had reported 7-10 sexual partners (Table 9).
Table 8: Age at first sex and first commercial sex among FSWs in various zones
| Sexual history |
% of respondents among FSWs in various zones |
|
| |
North |
East |
West |
South |
Central |
North-East |
|
| Age at first sex |
|
| Below 14 years |
4 |
11 |
6 |
25 |
5 |
15 |
|
| 14-16 years |
53 |
53 |
39 |
42 |
56 |
49 |
|
| 17-20 years |
41 |
33 |
53 |
30 |
38 |
33 |
|
| 21 years or more |
2 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
|
| Age at first commercial sex |
|
| Up to 16 years |
12 |
21 |
10 |
9 |
2 |
12 |
|
| 17-20 years |
35 |
48 |
50 |
35 |
29 |
38 |
|
| 21-25 years |
30 |
19 |
30 |
34 |
40 |
37 |
|
| 26-30 years |
15 |
11 |
9 |
14 |
23 |
9 |
|
| 31 years or more |
8 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
6 |
4 |
|
Type of sexual partners
At least 95% of the paying sexual partners among FSWs in all zones except West zone were reported to be truck drivers. In the West zone, 62% FSWs had said that their commercial sex partners included truck drivers. More than 55% of such clients in all zones except West zone were said to be truck helpers.
Table 9: Reported number of different sexual partners among
FSWs in various zones during the last week
| No. of sex partners in the last week |
% of respondents among FSWs in various zones |
|
North |
East |
West |
South |
Central |
North East |
| 2-4 |
13 |
11 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
19 |
| 5-6 |
18 |
12 |
2 |
4 |
9 |
15 |
| 7-10 |
30 |
18 |
15 |
8 |
30 |
44 |
| 11-15 |
22 |
25 |
23 |
10 |
31 |
13 |
| 16-25 |
13 |
20 |
33 |
24 |
16 |
6 |
| More than 25 |
2 |
13 |
23 |
50 |
8 |
2 |
The number of FSWs who reported having sex with non-commercial partners (including husband, live-in sexual partner, and other non-regular non-paying partners) was high in North zone (51%) and Central zone (54%) as compared to those in other zones.
Reported condom use
Condom use with commercial clients: Reported condom use by FSWs for every commercial sex during the preceding week was high in West and South zones (85% and 84% respectively) as compared to other zones. It was lowest (31%) in Central zone (Table 10).
Table 10: Reported condom use with paying client during preceding month among FSWs in various zones
Condom use during % of respondents among FSWs in various zones
| commercial sex |
North |
East |
West |
South |
Central |
North East |
| Every time |
35 |
37 |
85 |
84 |
31 |
41 |
| Almost every time |
29 |
14 |
6 |
14 |
20 |
33 |
| Sometimes |
24 |
35 |
7 |
2 |
34 |
24 |
| Never |
12 |
14 |
2 |
0 |
15 |
2 |
Reported condom use with the last client was 71% in North zone, 62% in East zone, 94% in West zone, 96% in South zone, 54% in Central zone and 77% in North-East zone. This survey indicated that the zones where the reported number of different commercial sexual partners was high (South and West zones), the reported condom use was also higher than in other zones. Similarly, the number of different partners reported during the last week was lower in Central, East and North-East zones, where the reported condom use was also low.
Reported condom use with non-paying partners: Seventy percent FSWs in West zone had said that they had used condoms during every sex with a non-paying partner during the preceding year. The proportion of FSWs giving the same response in other zones was lower. For example, only 6% FSWs from North and Central zones, and 14% FSWs in East zone had reported consistent condom use during sex with non-paying partners in the same period. Seventy-four percent FSWs in Central zone had said that they had never used a condom during sex with non-paying partner in the last year.
