Facilitating condom use with clients during commercial sex in Nevada's legal brothels.

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.

Condom use among female commercial sex workers in Nevada's legal brothels.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate condom use and the incidence of breakage and slippage during vaginal intercourse among female prostitutes in legal Nevada brothels, where use of condoms is required by law. METHODS: Forty-one licensed prostitutes in three brothels were enrolled in a prospective trial in August 1993. Used condoms were collected to verify reported breaks visually. Retrospective breakage and slippage rates were obtained in a standardized interview. RESULTS: Condoms were used for every act of vaginal intercourse with a brothel client during the study period, as well as in the previous year. In the prospective study phase, condoms were used in 353 acts of vaginal intercourse with clients. No condoms broke, and none fell off the penis during intercourse. Only twice (0.6%) did condoms completely fall off during withdrawal. Twelve times (3.4%) during intercourse and 15 times (4.3%) during withdrawal, condoms slipped down the penis but did not fall off. CONCLUSIONS: These findings, among the lowest breakage and slippage rates published, suggest that regular condom use may lead to condom mastery and the development of techniques to reduce the likelihood of breakage and slippage.

Condom use and breakage among women in a municipal hospital family planning clinic.

For those who choose to be sexually active, condoms are the best available means of protection against sexually transmitted diseases including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Condoms are also an effective method for preventing pregnancy. Unfortunately, condoms are not 100% effective at preventing pregnancy or the spread of infection, in part because condoms do break. In order to gain insight into condom breakage, a questionnaire was administered to women attending a municipal hospital family planning clinic. Thirty-six percent of the 106 subjects had experienced at least one condom breakage. Condom breakage occurred in approximately 1 out of 100 acts of intercourse using condoms, with a lifetime breakage rate of 10 per 1000 condom uses and a past year breakage rate of 8 per 1000 condom uses. Breakage rates did not differ substantially by age. Five percent of the women's unplanned pregnancies were attributed to broken condoms. The results of this study corroborate previously reported rates. Factors associated with these women's most recent breakage experiences included: vaginal intercourse, minimal foreplay, and breakage prior to ejaculation. Controlled studies will be needed to determine how the condom can be used to reduce the likelihood of breakage.

PIP: For those who choose to be sexually active, condoms are the best available means of protection against sexually transmitted diseases, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Condoms are also an effective method for preventing pregnancy. Unfortunately, they are not 100% reliable at preventing pregnancy or the spread of infection, in part because condoms break. In order to understand condom breakage, a questionnaire was administered to women attending a municipal hospital family planning clinic. 36% of the 106 subjects had experienced at least 1 condom breakage; condom breakage occurs in approximately 1 of 100 acts of intercourse where the condom is used, with a lifetime breakage rate of 10/1000 condom uses. The past year breakage rate was 8/1000 condom uses. The past year breakage rate was 8/1000 condom uses. Breakage rates did not differ substantially by age. 5% of the women's unplanned pregnancies were attributed to broken condoms. Results of this study corroborate previously reported rates. Factors associated with most recent breakage experiences included: vaginal intercourse, minimal foreplay, and breakage prior to ejaculation. Controlled studies will need to determine how the condom can be made to better withstand the likelihood of breakage.

Human papovavirus (JC): induction of brain tumors in hamsters.

Eighty-three percent of hamsters inoculated at birth with JC virus, a human papovavirus isolated from brain tissue of a case of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, developed malignant gliomas within 6 months. Three brain tumors have been serially transplanted as subcutaneous tumors. JC virus was isolated from five of seven tumors tested. Cells from four tumors were cultivated in vitro. These cells contained an intranuclear antigen with the characteristics of a T antigen, and this antigen was antigenically related to SV40 T antigen. Although virus was not recovered from extracts of serially cultured tumor cells, JC virus was rescued when one tumor cell line was fused with permissive cells.