Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29587691›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2018

Trends in unprotected intercourse among heterosexual men before and after brothel ban in Siem Reap, Cambodia: a serial cross-sectional study (2003-2012).

Mee Lian Wong, Alvin Kuo Jing Teo, Bee Choo Tai, Alwyn Mao Tong Ng, Raymond Boon Tar Lim, Dede Kam Tyng Tham, Nashwinder Kaur, Rayner Kay Jin Tan, Sarath Kros, Savun Touch and 2 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
5.3field-weighted citation impact, top 5% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.

Mee Lian WongSaw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Tahir Foundation Building, 12 Science Drive 2 #10-01, Singapore, 117549, Singapore. ephwml@nus.edu.sg.
Alvin Kuo Jing TeoSaw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Tahir Foundation Building, 12 Science Drive 2 #10-01, Singapore, 117549, Singapore.
Bee Choo TaiSaw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Tahir Foundation Building, 12 Science Drive 2 #10-01, Singapore, 117549, Singapore.
Alwyn Mao Tong NgSaw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Tahir Foundation Building, 12 Science Drive 2 #10-01, Singapore, 117549, Singapore.
Raymond Boon Tar LimSaw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Tahir Foundation Building, 12 Science Drive 2 #10-01, Singapore, 117549, Singapore.
Dede Kam Tyng ThamSaw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Tahir Foundation Building, 12 Science Drive 2 #10-01, Singapore, 117549, Singapore.
Nashwinder KaurSaw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Tahir Foundation Building, 12 Science Drive 2 #10-01, Singapore, 117549, Singapore.
Rayner Kay Jin TanSaw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Tahir Foundation Building, 12 Science Drive 2 #10-01, Singapore, 117549, Singapore.
Sarath KrosProvincial Health Department, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia.
Savun TouchProvincial AIDS Office, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia.
Maryan ChhitKhmer Soviet Friendship Hospital, Phnom Penh Province, Cambodia.
Ian LubekDepartment of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada.
National University of Singapore · SGCambodia-Oxford Medical Research Unit · KHUniversity of Guelph · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFollowing Cambodia's implementation of the 100% condom use program with enforcement of condom use and STI treatment services for sex workers in 2001, sexually transmitted infection and HIV declined markedly. In 2008, Cambodia implemented a law to ban brothel-based sex work. We reported trends in unprotected vaginal intercourse with sex workers among heterosexual men buying sex before (2003-2008) and after (2009-2012) the brothel ban in Cambodia. We also determined the association of brothel ban with these men's reports of unprotected intercourse with sex workers.

methodsIn this serial cross-sectional study, we collected yearly behavioural data on random cross-sectional samples of heterosexual men buying sex who attended the only government health centre in Siem Reap for voluntary confidential counselling and testing (VCCT) between 2003 and 2012. We used multivariable Poisson regression analysis on the 10-year data of 976 men to obtain the adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) of unprotected intercourse in the last 6 months by brothel closure.

resultsMen buying sex from non-brothel-based sex workers increased almost 3-fold from 17% in 2007-2008 before brothel closure to 55% in 2011-2012 after brothel closure (p < 0.001). Unprotected intercourse with sex workers in the last week increased significantly from 37% (2003-2004) before brothel closure to 65% (2011-2012) after brothel closure. This increase corresponded closely with the increase in self-reported unprotected intercourse from 35% to 61% by the sex workers (n = 1805) attending the same clinic for VCCT. Brothel closure was associated with an increased risk (aPR: 1.65; 95% CI: 1.40-1.94) of unprotected intercourse with sex workers. HIV prevalence in the heterosexual men declined significantly from 26% in 2003-2004 to 4.8% in 2007-2008 and 0 case in 2009-2010 before increasing to 5.6% in 2011-2012.

conclusionOur findings suggest that the brothel ban had led to an increase in unprotected intercourse with all sex workers for men buying sex. This effect could be attributed to reduced condom access, a consequence of the lack of feasibility to implement the 100% condom use program following the brothel ban. The ban on brothels in Cambodia should be reviewed.

Indexed as

AdultCambodiaCondomsCross-Sectional StudiesHeterosexualityHIV InfectionsHumansMaleProgram EvaluationSelf ReportSexually Transmitted DiseasesSex WorkUnsafe SexYoung AdultBrothel banHeterosexual men buying sexSerial cross-sectional study (2003–2012)Unprotected vaginal intercourse

Identifiers

PMID29587691
PMCPMC5870923
OpenAlexW2794565039

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.