Objectives: This study examined condom use in legal Nevada brothels.
Methods: Forty female prostitutes in two brothels were interviewed about client resistance to condoms and techniques for facilitating condom use.
Results: Of 3290 clients in the previous month, 2.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.2%,3.4%) were reluctant to use condoms. Of these individuals, 72% ultimately used condoms, while 12% chose nonpenetrative sex without condoms. The remaining 16% left the brothels without services. Condom use rates were markedly lower with nonpaying sex partners (lowers) than with clients.
Conclusions: Brothel prostitutes may be at greater risk for acquiring HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases from lovers than from clients.