Mobility as a Differential Factor of HIV Among Female Sex Workers in Belgaum District, Karnataka, India

Mobility among female sex workers (FSWs) contributes to increased sexual risk behaviors. Previous studies about the correlation between HIV status and mobility in India are rare. The present authors explore the association between mobility and HIV status among FSWs. Data were obtained from a cross-sectional study conducted in 2008 among FSWs (N = 405) in Belgaum who participated in an integrated biological and behavioral assessment. Analysis was conducted with HIV prevalence as an outcome variable and mobility status as a predictor after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. A logistic regression model indicates that FSWs who were mobile were more likely to have HIV infection than a local group (odds ratio 1.93, 95% confidence interval 1.17 to 3.22, p < .01). FSWs who have ever practiced sex work in Mumbai were more likely to have HIV (odds ratio 2.10, 95% confidence interval 0.89 to 4.91, p = .03). Thus, there is a need to design HIV interventions for mobile FSWs in India.