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Prostitution in Riga, Latvia--a socio-medical matter of concern

Kurova, T ; Shoubnikova, M ; Malceva, A and Mårdh, Per-Anders LU (1998) In Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica 77(1). p.83-86
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To study the background and the working and socio-economic conditions, and the prevalence of some sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), among street and sex club female Latvian prostitutes. STUDY DESIGN: Structured in-depth interviews, as well as clinical examination and laboratory tests for gonorrhea, syphilis, bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, ectoparasites and HIV-infections. RESULTS: Approximately half of the 107 women stemmed from rural Latvian villages, the rest from the capital city of Riga. Of the women, 15-43 years, 36% were ethnic Latvians and 56% ethnic Russians, as compared to 58% vs. 32% of the population of Latvia. Poor economy with unemployment and miserly living conditions were the main reasons for... (More)
OBJECTIVES: To study the background and the working and socio-economic conditions, and the prevalence of some sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), among street and sex club female Latvian prostitutes. STUDY DESIGN: Structured in-depth interviews, as well as clinical examination and laboratory tests for gonorrhea, syphilis, bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, ectoparasites and HIV-infections. RESULTS: Approximately half of the 107 women stemmed from rural Latvian villages, the rest from the capital city of Riga. Of the women, 15-43 years, 36% were ethnic Latvians and 56% ethnic Russians, as compared to 58% vs. 32% of the population of Latvia. Poor economy with unemployment and miserly living conditions were the main reasons for recruitment to prostitution. The income per client was in the range of 25-30 USD (10-15 Ls), but the pimp and brothel/sex club owner often requires half of the women's fees. Unprotected intercourse was common. Twenty of the women were found to be pregnant. One tenth used narcotic drugs, e.g. ecstasy. The prevalences of gonorrhea, active syphilis, bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis and ectoparasites were 10.2%, 15.7%, 68.2%, 35.5% and 15.9% respectively. None was HIV-infected. CONCLUSIONS: There is an urgent need for regulation of the Latvian 'sex industry', means for providing prostitutes with adequate contraceptives, and to allocate resources to clinics for investigation, therapy and counseling. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Eastern Europe, prostitution, sexually transmitted diseases, socioeconomy
in
Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
volume
77
issue
1
pages
83 - 86
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • pmid:9492725
  • scopus:0031965639
ISSN
1600-0412
DOI
10.1080/00016349808565818
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
cd7f837f-9adf-4545-8895-6319dcb92459 (old id 1113807)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:58:38
date last changed
2022-01-28 23:28:32
@article{cd7f837f-9adf-4545-8895-6319dcb92459,
  abstract     = {{OBJECTIVES: To study the background and the working and socio-economic conditions, and the prevalence of some sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), among street and sex club female Latvian prostitutes. STUDY DESIGN: Structured in-depth interviews, as well as clinical examination and laboratory tests for gonorrhea, syphilis, bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, ectoparasites and HIV-infections. RESULTS: Approximately half of the 107 women stemmed from rural Latvian villages, the rest from the capital city of Riga. Of the women, 15-43 years, 36% were ethnic Latvians and 56% ethnic Russians, as compared to 58% vs. 32% of the population of Latvia. Poor economy with unemployment and miserly living conditions were the main reasons for recruitment to prostitution. The income per client was in the range of 25-30 USD (10-15 Ls), but the pimp and brothel/sex club owner often requires half of the women's fees. Unprotected intercourse was common. Twenty of the women were found to be pregnant. One tenth used narcotic drugs, e.g. ecstasy. The prevalences of gonorrhea, active syphilis, bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis and ectoparasites were 10.2%, 15.7%, 68.2%, 35.5% and 15.9% respectively. None was HIV-infected. CONCLUSIONS: There is an urgent need for regulation of the Latvian 'sex industry', means for providing prostitutes with adequate contraceptives, and to allocate resources to clinics for investigation, therapy and counseling.}},
  author       = {{Kurova, T and Shoubnikova, M and Malceva, A and Mårdh, Per-Anders}},
  issn         = {{1600-0412}},
  keywords     = {{Eastern Europe; prostitution; sexually transmitted diseases; socioeconomy}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{83--86}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica}},
  title        = {{Prostitution in Riga, Latvia--a socio-medical matter of concern}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00016349808565818}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/00016349808565818}},
  volume       = {{77}},
  year         = {{1998}},
}