The reasons why African women become engaged in sex work have received little attention in academic research. While it is largely acknowledged that there exists a connection between entering the sex trade and poverty, not all women who are poor enter sex work. Through the use of life histories with 21 women between the ages of 18 and 42, this thesis explores the combination of factors that lead women and girls to become commercial sex workers in Nairobi, Kenya. This method provides a detailed look at initiation into sex work as it occurs over the life course for women and girls in this context. Additionally, this thesis examines how structural violence impinges on their lives, thereby increasing vulnerability to engagement in sex work. Examining the larger socio-political and economic contexts illustrates how issues such as HIV/AIDS, migrant labour, changing gender roles, the erosion of existing familial structures and gender inequities structure risk for suffering for women. These issues result in many girls losing caregiver support by being orphaned, while additionally, women are burdened with providing total economic and social support for the family in a society that has gendered economic opportunities. Both girls and women are left with few options other than the sex trade to survive.

Problématique : Les femmes travailleuses du sexe (TS) constituent la population le plus à risque d’infection au VIH dans différents pays d’Afrique subsaharienne. Plusieurs interventions y ont ainsi été menées pour réduire le risque d’infection en influant sur les facteurs de risque. Parmi ces interventions, on peut citer la promotion de l’utilisation du préservatif de même que le dépistage et le traitement des infections sexuellement transmissibles (IST). Cependant, certaines composantes sont peu représentées dans ce panel d’interventions offertes aux femmes TS. Le conseil dépistage volontaire pourrait s’avérer une intervention utile de prévention primaire et secondaire pour cette population mais son acceptabilité est mal connue. Par ailleurs, en termes de surveillance de l’épidémie, l’évaluation de la validité de l’auto-rapport d’utilisation du préservatif, indicateur fréquemment utilisé lors d’enquêtes populationnelles serait souhaitable. Enfin, pour ce qui est de la prévention de l’infection dans cette population, l’effet du désir d’enfant sur l’utilisation non systématique du condom avec le principal partenaire régulier non payant est peu connu. Il en est de même pour la prévalence de certaines IST comme le VPH-16 et l’effet combiné de facteurs sociodémographiques, comportementaux et préventifs sur la présence de ces IST. Objectifs : Les objectifs de cette thèse sont 1) de mesurer l’acceptabilité et les conséquences du conseil dépistage volontaire du VIH chez les femmes TS de Conakry en Guinée; 2) d’évaluer la validité de l’auto-rapport de l’utilisation du préservatif dans cette population grâce à un indicateur biologique de présence de sperme, l’antigène spécifique de la prostate (PSA); 3) d’estimer la fréquence d’utilisation systématique du préservatif avec les partenaires clients et non-clients des femmes TS et d’étudier l’importance du désir d’enfant dans l’utilisation non systématique du préservatif avec le principal partenaire régulier non-client et 4) de mesurer la prévalence des IST et du VIH et d’étudier les facteurs sociodémographiques, comportementaux et préventifs qui y sont associés. Méthodologie : Nous avons mené une étude longitudinale dans la ville de Conakry en Guinée auprès de 421 femmes TS recrutées dans trois services de santé adaptés pour elles. Un devis mixte répété un an plus tard a permis de collecter des données quantitatives et qualitatives. Des analyses biologiques de dépistage des IST et du VIH ont été effectuées. Résultats : Le premier article de résultats présenté dans cette thèse montre que l’acceptabilité du conseil dépistage volontaire est élevée chez les femmes TS. En effet, les taux d’acceptation du test, de retour pour la prise de résultats et de notification du statut sérologique avoisinaient les 100%. Cette acceptabilité semblait être le fait d’une perception de risque d’infection élevé, mais aussi d’une pression sociale du milieu prostitutionnel pour effectuer le dépistage et révéler le statut sérologique. Les conséquences négatives au dépistage étaient rares. Le deuxième article montre que l’auto-rapport de l’usage récent du préservatif a une très faible sensibilité lorsque comparé à l’étalon d’or que constitue la PSA. Ainsi, la plupart des personnes chez qui la PSA était retrouvée ne rapportaient aucun rapport non protégé récent. La discordance entre l’auto-rapport d’utilisation récente du préservatif et la présence de PSA était associée à une perception de risque d’infection au VIH élevé. Enfin, la troisième section montre que si l’utilisation systématique du préservatif était très fréquente avec les clients, elle l’est beaucoup moins avec le principal partenaire régulier non-client. Le désir d’enfant de la femme TS contribue de manière significative à l’utilisation non systématique du condom avec ce type de partenaire. Des facteurs sociodémographiques, comportementaux et la coinfection par d’autres IST sont associés à la présence d’IST/VIH, ces dernières étant fréquentes dans la population des femmes TS malgré les nombreuses interventions qui y sont menées. Conclusion : En conclusion, l’on peut dire que la prévention du VIH chez les femmes TS constitue un défi nécessitant des interventions intégrées tenant compte du contexte commercial dans lequel ces interventions sont implantées et des aspirations des femmes TS en matière de reproduction. / Background: Female sex workers (FSW) constitute the population most at risk for HIV infection in many countries of Sub-Saharan Africa. Several interventions have been implemented in this population to reduce the risk of infection. These interventions include the promotion of condom use and the screening and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STI). However, some components are poorly represented among the interventions offered to FSW. Voluntary counselling and testing could be a useful intervention of primary and secondary prevention for this population but the acceptability of this intervention by FSW is little-known. In addition, in terms of surveillance of the epidemics, the evaluation of the validity of self-reported condom use is important as this indicator is frequently used in population surveys. More information is also needed about the importance of the desire for children in using inconsistently condoms with the main non-paying regular partner. Finally, the prevalence of STIs such as HPV-16 and the combined impact of sociodemographic, behavioural and preventive factors on HIV/STIs infection in this population need to be assessed. Objectives: The objectives of this thesis are 1) to measure the acceptability and the consequences of voluntary HIV counselling and testing among FSW in Conakry, Guinea; 2) to assess the validity of self-report condom use in this population through a biological indicator of semen, the prostate specific antigen (PSA); 3) to measure condom use with clients and non-client partners of FSW and to study the importance of the desire for children in inconsistent condom use with the main regular non-client partner and 4) to measure the prevalence of STIs and HIV and the socio-demographic, behavioural and preventive factors related to these infection outcomes. Methodology: We conducted a longitudinal study in the city of Conakry, Guinea among 421 FSW recruited in three health centers adapted for FSW. A longitudinal mixed design allowed for quantitative and qualitative data collections at baseline and one year later. Biological screening tests for STIs and HIV were performed. Results: The first article presented in this thesis showed that the acceptability of voluntary counselling and testing is high among FSW. The acceptance rate of testing, the return rate for results and disclosure of HIV status were close to 100%. This acceptability seemed to be the result of a high risk perception of HIV infection and of social pressure on FSW by the sex work stakeholders to undergo testing and to disclose their serostatus. Negatives consequences to VCT were rare. The second paper showed that self-reported recent condom use had a very low sensitivity when compared to the gold standard. Thus, most women in whom the PSA was found did not report any recent unprotected intercourse. The discrepancy between self-reported recent condom use and the presence of PSA was associated with a perceived high risk of HIV infection. The third section showed that while condom use was very common with clients, it was much less with non-client regular partners. The desire for pregnancy among SW contributed significantly to inconsistent condom use with this type of sexual partner. Socio-demographic characteristics, behavioural factors and co-infection with other STIs were associated with the presence of STIs and HIV, which were common despite all the interventions that were conducted in this population. Conclusion: In conclusion, HIV prevention among FSW is a challenge requiring the development of integrated strategies that take into account the commercial context in which these interventions are implemented but also FSW’s childbearing aspirations.

MA (Youth in Development) / Institute for Gender and Youth Studies / Commercial sex work (CSW) has turned out to be a subject of concern in most societies. CSW occurs in most countries of the world, and has existed since ancient times. Different nations have different viewpoints with regards to prostitution. In some nations it is illegal while in others it is legal. Prostitution is regarded as a social problem that offends culture, societal morals and values and leads to the spread of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). In most studies about sex work, male counterparts receive little attention but they play a role in the industry. In light of the profiled background context of the problem, this study explored the experiences of female sex workers (FSWs) at Ngundu Growth Point in Zimbabwe. This study endeavored to examine the circumstances that drive women into CSW and the impact of prostitution on the wellbeing of FSWs. The study further examined the role played by government, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and health professionals towards service delivery to CSWs. In order to understand the experiences of sex worker intersectionality and feminist standpoint theories were deployed. A case study approach involving Ngundu growth point in Masvingo was utilized. The choice of Ngundu emanated from the fact that it is located along the highway that connects South Africa with Zimbabwe, Zambia and Democratic Republic of Congo and as a result, it experiences varying prostitution encounters. Methodologically, the study followed a qualitative research path involving the use of open-ended interviews as data collection methods. A total of nine participants were interviewed that includes sex workers as well as the key informants. Data analysis was done using thematic analysis. The overall study finding was that prostitution at Ngundu is proliferating due to economic hardships where most people are unemployed and living in poverty. From the field interviews with those involved in the prostitution business, it emerged that the socioeconomic situation in the country is forcing women to be in the sex industry. The recommendation proffered is that is that the government should create employment opportunities for the people, open vocational training centres and there should be awareness campaigns targeting sex workers. / NRF

No description available.

No description available.

[ES] Esta investigación doctoral parte de una serie de incomodidades e intuiciones en lo relativo a las lecturas contemporáneas acerca de la imagen pornográfica. Resulta habitual el abordaje de las mismas desde diferentes disciplinas, objetivos y marcos de análisis, pero pocas veces -o ninguna en nuestro contexto- la academia se ha detenido comprenderlas como productos culturales desde una perspectiva materialista, es decir, como objetos producto de la transformación material mediante la fuerza de trabajo de las corpo*realidades implicadas en su producción. Esta tesis está comprometida con la formulación de una investigación "desde abajo", es decir, planteándose la dimensión material de estas imágenes, indagando en las condiciones de sus agentes e infraestructuras, desplazando por un momento la mirada semiocentrada y los universos representacionales a los que se les supone una pertenencia. ¿Podemos pensar las imágenes en su dimensión material, objetual, histórica y ubicada en sus procesos de producción? Las tensiones entre universo simbólico y universo material poseen una posición central en el desarrollo de la investigación, trastocando los procesos habituales de observación, invirtiendo la mirada y situándonos así, desde abajo: yendo por el lado de las imágenes, de las trabajadoras que las crean, de las economías imaginales y materiales que se producen en las marginalidades de las buenas imágenes. Pues, ¿qué es la imagen pornográfica si no, una imagen marginalizada por un cierto sistema de valor? Para ello, el estudio situa discursiva, artística y metodológicamente dichas incomodidades e intuiciones, en diálogo constante con aquellos marcos y cuerpos que se han posicionado con mayor cercanía respecto al fenómeno de la pornografía: las teorías radicales del sexo, los estudios LGTBIQ+, los feminismos, los activismos de crítica cultural, las teorías del cine, la semiótica cinematográfica, la sociología o la antropología, entre otros. Estas relecturas críticas se han entretejido con el marco legislativo vigente, así como con otras voces o discursos "menos autorizados" en la cuestión de la imagen pornográfica como los nuevos materialismos, los análisis de políticas públicas pasados y presentes, las perspectivas marxistas hacia la imagen o las aportaciones desde las genealogías fem/femme. La tesis es, en este sentido, analítica -pues examina los diferentes terrenos y marcos en los que se dan estas producciones-, crítica -pues complejiza los discursos sedimentados a partir de torceduras y desviaciones de mirada- y radicalmente especulativa -pues no pierde de vista la posible y deseable imbricación con los movimientos de transformación social en la intersección entre las imágenes, la sexualidad y el trabajo. Así, la investigación se pregunta radicalmente por el qué pero también por el cómo, revisando de esta manera transversal e implicada las maneras en las que se hace emerger el conocimiento, o se producen sus marginalidades altamente feminizadas. La investigación se enmarca, además, en un momento socio-político, tecnológico y estético transicional y, por tanto, crítico en lo relativo a las políticas y rebeldías desde abajo hacia las formas de gestionar y regular no sólo las dimensiones materiales mediante el uso indiscriminado de argumentarios desentendidos de la naturaleza y de los procesos en la creación de imágenes, sino también de la propia relación onto-epistemológica que resignifica las relaciones entre el ver y el hacer como forma de gestión vertical de la materialidad de la vida de las imágenes, de sus trabajadoras y comunidades. / [CA] Aquesta investigació doctoral part d'una sèrie d'incomoditats i intuïcions quant a les lectures contemporànies sobre la imatge pornogràfica. Resulta habitual l'abordatge de les mateixes des de diferents disciplines, objectius i marcs d'anàlisis, però poques vegades -o cap en el nostre context- l'acadèmia s'ha detingut comprendre-les com a productes culturals des d'una perspectiva materialista, és a dir, com a objectes producte de la transformació material mitjançant la força de treball de les corpo*realitats implicades en la seua producció. Aquesta tesi està compromesa amb la formulació d'una investigació "des de baix", és a dir, plantejant-se la dimensió material d'aquestes imatges, indagant en les condicions dels seus agents i infraestructures, desplaçant per un moment la mirada semiocentrada i els universos representacionals als quals se'ls suposa una pertinença. Podem pensar les imatges en la seua dimensió material, objectual, històrica i situada en els seus processos de producció? Les tensions entre univers simbòlic i univers material posseeixen una posició central en el desenvolupament de la investigació, trastocant els processos habituals d'observació, invertint la mirada i situant-nos així, des de baix: anant pel costat de les imatges, de les treballadores que les creen, de les economies imaginales i materials que es produeixen en les marginalitats de les bones imatges. Perquè, què és la imatge pornogràfica si no, una imatge marginalitzada per un cert sistema de valor? Per a això, l'estudi situa discursiva, artística i metodològicament aquestes incomoditats i intuïcions, en diàleg constant amb aquells marcs i cossos que s'han posicionat amb major proximitat respecte al fenomen de la pornografia: les teories radicals del sexe, els estudis LGTBIQ+, els feminismes, els activismes de crítica cultural, les teories del cinema, la semiòtica cinematogràfica, la sociologia o l'antropologia, entre altres. Aquestes relectures crítiques s'han entreteixit amb el marc legislatiu vigent, així com amb altres veus o discursos "menys autoritzats" en la qüestió de la imatge pornogràfica com els nous materialismes, les anàlisis de polítiques públiques passats i presents, les perspectives marxistes cap a la imatge o les aportacions des de les genealogies fem/femme. La tesi és, en aquest sentit, analítica -perquè examina els diferents terrenys i marcs en els quals es donen aquestes produccions-, crítica -perquè complica els discursos sedimentats a partir de torçades i desviacions de mirada- i radicalment especulativa -perquè no perd de vista la possible i desitjable imbricació amb els moviments de transformació social en la intersecció entre les imatges, la sexualitat i el treball. Així, la investigació es pregunta radicalment pel quin però també pel com, revisant d'aquesta manera transversal i implicada les maneres en les quals es fa emergir el coneixement, o es produeixen les seues marginalitats altament feminitzades. La investigació s'emmarca, a més, en un moment soci-polític, tecnològic i estètic transicional i, per tant, crític quant a les polítiques i rebel·lies des de baix cap a les maneres de gestionar i regular, no sols les dimensions materials mitjançant l'ús indiscriminat d'argumentaris desentesos de la naturalesa i dels processos en la creació d'imatges, sinó també de la pròpia relació onto-epistemològica que resignifica les relacions entre el veure i el fer com a forma de gestió vertical de la materialitat de la vida de les imatges, de les seues treballadores i comunitats. / [EN] This doctoral research is based on several discomforts and intuitions regarding contemporary readings of the pornographic image. It is usual to approach them from different disciplines, objectives and frameworks of analysis, but rarely -or none, in our context- the academy has stopped to understand them as cultural products from a materialistic perspective, that is, as objects product of the material transformation through the labor force of the corpo*realities involved in their production. This thesis is committed to the formulation of an investigation "from below", that is to say, considering the material dimension of these images, investigating the conditions of their agents and infrastructures, displacing for a moment the semiocentric gaze and the representational universes to which they are supposed to belong. Can we think images in their material, objectual, historical dimension and located in their production processes? The tensions between symbolic universe and material universe have a central position in the development of the research, disrupting the usual processes of observation, inverting the gaze and thus situating us, from below: going on the side of the images, of the workers who create them, of the imaginary and material economies that are produced in the marginalities of the good images. For what is the pornographic image if not an image marginalized by a certain value system? To this end, the study situates discursively, artistically and methodologically these discomforts and intuitions, in constant dialogue with those frameworks and bodies that closer to the phenomenon of pornography: radical theories of sex, queer studies, feminisms, cultural criticism activisms, film theories, film semiotics, sociology or anthropology, among others. These critical re-readings have been interwoven with the current legislative framework, as well as with other "less authorized" voices or discourses on the issue of the pornographic image, such as the new materialisms, the analysis of past and present public policies, the marxist perspectives on the image or the contributions from the fem/femme genealogies. The thesis is, in this sense, analytical -as it examines the different terrains and frameworks in which these productions take place-, critical -as it complexifies the sedimented discourses from twists and deviations of gaze- and radically speculative -as it does not lose sight of the possible and desirable imbrication with the movements of social transformation at the intersection between images, sexuality and work. Thus, the research asks radically about the what but also about the how, reviewing in this transversal and involved way the ways in which knowledge is made to emerge, or its highly feminized marginalities are produced. The research is also framed in a transitional socio-political, technological and aesthetic moment and, therefore, critical in terms of politics and rebellions from below towards the ways of managing and regulating not only the material dimensions through the indiscriminate use of arguments disregarding the nature and processes in the creation of images, but also of the onto-epistemological relationship itself that resignifies the relations between seeing and doing as a form of vertical management of the materiality of the life of images, of their workers and communities. / Corrales Devesa, A. (2023). Por la imagen pornográfica. Infraestructuras, materialidades y corpo*realidades desde la perspectiva de sus trabajadoras [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/195839

In this study semi-structured, in-depth individual interviews were conducted with sixteen female street children aged 15 to 18, who were engaged in commercial sex work. These children were conveniently selected to explore the social dislocation of and social support for female street children engaged in commercial sex work. In addition, two focus group discussions consisting of nine female street children each, as well as seven key informant individual interviews, were conducted. This study found that female children engaged in commercial sex work experienced a high degree of social dislocation and that the children who participated in this study tended to create their own communities and isolated themselves from the broader community in which they lived. This study further found that different support programmes had been introduced to alleviate the problems experienced by these children and that a number of organisations delivered support services to address their needs. / Sociology / M. A. (Sociology)

Given the lack of effective vaccine or medicine, changing an individual's risk behaviours has been crucial in preventing the spread of HIV. Consistent and correct condom use has been considered as the most effective form of HIV prevention among female sex workers. Despite coordinated national level interventions over the last decade, a consistent decline in condom use among female sex workers has been evidenced in the Ethiopian context, particularly with non-paying partners. Thus far, no study has been produced that has illustrated major determinants of consistent condom use among female sex workers which would help in developing effective intervention strategies for the prevention of HIV spread in the country. In other countries, the Information, Motivation and Behaviour (IMB) model has been used to identify individual level determents of condom use. However, the researcher postulated that behaviour emanating from the personality structure of individuals could be the fundamental individual level determents of adherence to condom use and chose to investigate this using the Enneagram theory of personality, which was acknowledged for its heuristic value in explaining and enhancing self-development of at-risk individuals. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Addis Ababa. With the Without Finite Population Correction of the Sample Size Estimation Formula, the sample size of 350 was set and participants were recruited using Respondent-Driven Sampling (RDS). Using trained female sex workers, the Essential Enneagram Test (EET) and an Information-Motivation-Behaviour (IMB) questionnaire were administered to collect data. General Linear Modeling (GLM) Multivariate analysis was carried out to assess the correlation between personality style and consistent condom use among participants in the last seven days before the interview. The finding of this study revealed that personality type, measured by the Essential Enneagram Test (EET), is able to predict adherence to condom use among female sex workers and provided a new dimension for policy makers and practitioners in behavioural intervention programmes, such as Information-Education-Communication, peer-to-peer approaches, as well as health and rehabilitation services by using the Enneagram principles and universal growth process. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)

In South African Law, sex work is currently mainly dealt with in terms of the Sexual Offences and Related Matters Act 32 of 2007, although other legislation, such as the Aliens Control Act 3 of 1993 also contains provisions that are peripherally relevant to sex work. In addition, municipal by-laws play an important role in the regulation of sex work, especially outdoor sex work. These by-laws are often aimed at addressing the more visible aspects of outdoor sex work. This dissertation aims to analyse the policing methods used by the police when policing sex work in Sunnyside, and whether the police have the ability and capacity to enforce current legislation in this regard. The enormous incidents of dehumanization and abuse of sex workers by the police who are supposed to enforce the Sexual Offences Act 32 of 2007 and the previous legislation on sex work questions whether the police should be given more or less powers in dealing with this crime. This dissertation aims to conduct an in-depth analysis of relevant literature in order to provide a background for the discussion on the origins of sex work and the different legal models for dealing with sex work. The study also endeavours to establish a frame of reference for considering different legal models to deal with sex work and to identify different policies and legal approaches to sex work, and to consider the impact of the current laws regulating sex workers and the harm that result from this. The dissertation aims to explore and describe the challenges that the police in Sunnyside experience, and also to analyse the difficulties that sex workers often encounter. The knowledge generated in this study will enhance the existing knowledge in the policing of sex work, and will also serve to educate the police, criminal justice institutions, and the community about the nature and extent of the problems that policing agencies experience when policing sex workers in Sunnyside. / Police Practice / M. Tech. (Policing)

Les clients de TS sont considérés comme un groupe à risque de VIH et aussi agiraient comme un « pont de transmission » entre les TS et les femmes de la population générale. En dépit de leurs comportements sexuels à risque, les clients de TS ont été rarement étudiés. En conséquence, les objectifs spécifiques de cette thèse étaient : 1) estimer la prévalence du VIH, de la syphilis, du VHS-2 (virus de l’herpès simplex et 2) des facteurs de risque associés chez les clients de TS en Haïti, 2) examiner les déterminants de l’intention d’utilisation du condom, et 3) estimer la prévalence des comportements de violence et ses conséquences. Pour ce faire, une enquête transversale a été effectuée en 2006 auprès de 378 clients fréquentant les milieux de prostitution de St-Marc et de Gonaïves, en Haïti. Un questionnaire structuré ainsi que des échantillons de sang séché sur papier filtre ont été utilisés pour la collecte de données comportementales et biologiques. Notre premier article a montré une prévalence élevée du VIH et des ITS chez les clients. Ces hommes avaient plusieurs partenaires sexuelles avec lesquelles l’utilisation du condom variait. Les clients qui avaient déjà consommé de la marijuana, pratiquaient le vaudou, avaient des antécédents d’ITS ou étaient infectés par le VHS-2, avaient plus de chances d’être positifs au VIH. Le fait d’habiter Gonaïves, de ne pas être protestant, d’être employé et d’avoir déjà essayé la marijuana était associé à l’infection à la syphilis. Tandis que les clients plus vieux, ceux résidants à Gonaïves ainsi que ceux pratiquant le vaudou étaient plus souvent infectés par le VHS-2. Dans notre second article, nous avons démontré que les normes subjectives, le contrôle comportemental perçu et les attitudes étaient des déterminants importants de l’intention d’utilisation du condom. Les clients qui avaient des antécédents d’ITS ou avaient utilisé le condom lors de la dernière relation sexuelle avec la TS étaient aussi plus susceptibles d’avoir l’intention d’en faire usage dans le futur. Les résultats du dernier article ont montré que la prévalence des comportements de violence envers les partenaires intimes était élevée. De plus, la violence émotionnelle et physique était associée à l’utilisation inconstante du condom avec les différentes partenaires sexuelles. En conclusion, cette étude suggère que les clients de TS agiraient comme un pont de transmission facilitant la propagation du VIH/ITS dans la population générale en Haïti et que la violence semblerait également jouer un rôle dans la transmission de ces infections. Nos résultats soulignent le besoin d’interventions en prévention du VIH et des ITS ciblant cette population vulnérable, incluant la problématique de la violence. / Male clients of FSWs are a high risk group for HIV and are considered a “bridge” of transmission between FSWs and women in the general population, through unprotected sex. In spite of their high risk behaviours, clients of FSWs have rarely been studied and they have been the target of few interventions. Therefore, the specific objectives of this thesis were to examine 1) estimate the prevalence of HIV, syphilis and HSV-2 (herpes simplex virus 2) infections and their associated risk factors among clients of FSWs in Haiti, to 2) examine the determinants of intention to condom use, and 3) estimate the prevalence of violence towards their intimate partners and its association with sexual risky behaviours. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 378 clients visiting commercial sex sites in St-Marc and Gonaives, in Haiti. A structured questionnaire and dried blood spot samples were used to collect the behavioural and biological data. Our first research paper found that HIV/STI prevalence was remarkably high among clients of FSWs. These men had many sex partners and condom use differed, depending on the category of partner. Multivariate analysis indicated that clients who had tried marijuana, were practicing Voodoo, had a history of STI or were infected with HSV-2 were more often HIV-positive. Living in Gonaives, not being Protestant, being employed, and having tried marijuana were associated with syphilis infection. Older clients, residents of Gonaives and Voodoo practitioners were more likely to be infected with HSV-2. The second article revealed that subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and attitudes were predictors of intention to use condoms within this population. Clients having had a previous STI and who used condoms the last time they had sexual intercourse with a FSW were more likely to have the intention to use them in the future. The last article showed that prevalence of lifetime IPV was high among clients of FSWs. Moreover, history of emotional and physical IPV were strong predictors of inconsistent condom use with the different sexual partners. The fact that these abusive men are also more likely to be infected with an STI puts their sexual partners at high risk of infection. In summary, this study suggested that clients of FSWs likely act as a bridge population facilitating the spread of HIV/STI throughout the general population in Haiti and that violence seemed to play a role in the transmission. Our findings highlight the importance of STI/HIV prevention interventions addressing this vulnerable population, including gender-based violence.