Species limits and phylogeographic structure in two genera of solitary African mole-rats Georychus and Heliophobius.

African mole-rats (Bathyergidae) are an intensively studied family of subterranean rodents including three highly social and three solitary genera. Although their phylogenetic interrelations are clear, genetic diversity and the number of species within each genus is much less certain. Among the solitary genera, Heliophobius and Georychus were for a long time considered as monotypic, but molecular studies demonstrated strong phylogeographic structure within each genus and proposed that they represent complexes of cryptic species. The present study re-evaluates their internal genetic/phylogenetic structure using a combination of methodological approaches. We generated datasets of one mitochondrial and six specifically selected nuclear markers as well as of a large number of double digest restriction site associated (ddRAD) loci and then applied species delimitation analyses based on the multispecies coalescent model or clustering on co-ancestry matrices. The population structure was largely congruent across all analyses, but the methods differed in their resolution scale when determining distinct gene pools. While the multispecies coalescent model distinguished five Georychus and between eleven to thirteen Heliophobius gene pools in both Sanger sequenced and ddRAD loci, two clustering algorithms revealed significantly finer or coarser structure in ddRAD based co-ancestry matrices. Tens of clusters were distinguished by fineRADstructure and one (in Georychus) or two clusters (in Heliophobius) by Infomap. The divergence dating of the bathyergid phylogeny estimated that diversification within both genera coincided with the onset of the Pleistocene and was likely driven by repeated large-scale climatic changes. Based on this updated genetic evidence, we suggest recognizing one species of Georychus and two species of Heliophobius, corresponding to a northern and southern major lineage, separated by the Eastern Arc Mountains. Yet, the final taxonomic revision should await integrated evidence stemming from e.g. morphological, ecological, or behavioral datasets.

The adoption of social media and social media marketing by dentists in South Africa.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to identify and understand social media usage behaviour of dentists in South Africa, in general and in particular as part of their marketing strategy and to consider the potential determinants associated with these behaviours. METHODS: Dentists who are members of the South African Dental Association were requested to anonymously complete an online questionnaire. Apart from demographic information, respondents were asked to report on their use of social media and their adoption of social media marketing. One-on-one interviews were also conducted with three dentists, to gain a deeper understanding of their adoption of this marketing option. RESULTS: South African dentists have started to embrace social media and 50.2% interact through these channels at least once a day. The most popular social media platforms are GooglePlus and Facebook. Respondents use social media mainly for personal purposes, including staying connected to family and friends.. Only 13.2% of those responding currently use social media as a marketing tool, but the majority (83.5%) predict that such usage will increase in future. CONCLUSION: Social media marketing is a growing trend and will become more significant in future. Although respondents used social media regularly for personal purposes, most are only now starting to use it as a marketing tool.

Repellence of the red bud borer Resseliella oculiperda from grafted apple trees by impregnation of rubber budding strips with essential oils.

The red bud borer Resseliella oculiperda (Rübs.) is a pest insect of apple trees when rootstocks are grafted with scion buds by 'shield budding'. The female midges are attracted to the wounds of the grafted buds where they lay their eggs. The larvae feed on the cambium and destroy the buds completely or partially, leading to bad union of the buds with the rootstocks. Budding strips are used very often by growers to bind scion buds to rootstocks. These strips cannot prevent midges from reaching the damaged tissue. Chemical treatments applied to the grafts and other types of strip do not provide better protection against the pest and may cause other risks for growers. In orchard experiments in 2000 and 2001, the authors evaluated the repellent action provided by three essential oils and five compounds of plant origin against the midges by impregnating budding strips with them. The essential oils of lavender, Lavandula angustifolia (P. Mill.), and alpha-terpineol decreased the infestation of buds by more than 95 and 80% respectively. The other potential repellents tested [the essential oil of Juniperus virginiana (L.), citronellal, the essential oil of Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J. Presl, R-carvone, linalool and R-fenchone] decreased infestation by 67, 66, 51, 45, 37 and 25% respectively. The formulation and commercial development of budding strips impregnated with lavender oil is discussed.

Prognostic value of day 14 blast percentage and the absolute blast index in bone marrow of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The product of the percentage blasts on the bone marrow aspirate (BMA) and the biopsy cellularity has been termed the "absolute blast index aspirate" (ABI-aspirate) and is used to measure disease response on day 7 of induction therapy. The authors compared the event-free survival (EFS) in high-risk and standard-risk patients as identified by the ABI-aspirate and the BMA percentage blasts on day 14 of induction therapy. Both indices identified high-risk cases. EFS of patients categorized as high-risk by these 2 methods and the high-risk criteria used by the authors' service (WCC of > 20 x 10(9)/L, age < 2 and > 8 years and a peripheral blood blast count of > 1.0 x 10(9)/L on day 8 of induction) did not differ. There was concordance between patients identified as high risk by all 3 methods. The results confirmed the prognostic value of the ABI-aspirate and the BMA percentage blasts on day 14 of induction therapy, but these methods were not superior to the high-risk criteria currently in use.

Predictors of psychopathology in young adults referred to mental health services in childhood or adolescence.

BACKGROUND: For children referred to mental health services future functioning may be hampered. AIMS: To examine stability and prediction of behavioural and emotional problems from childhood into adulthood. METHOD: A referred sample (n = 789) aged 4-18 years was followed up after a mean of 10.5 years. Scores derived from the Child Behavior Checklist, Youth Self-Report and Teacher Report Form were related to equivalent scores for young adults from the Young Adult Self-Report and Young Adult Behavior Checklist. RESULTS: Correlations between first contact (T1) and follow-up (T2) scores were 0.12-0.53. Young adult psychopathology was predicted by corresponding T1 problem scores. Social problems and anxious/depressed scores were predictors of general problem behaviour. CONCLUSIONS: Problem behaviour of children and adolescents referred to outpatient mental health services is highly predictive of similar problem behaviour at young adulthood. Stability is higher for externalizing than for internalizing behaviour and for intra-informant than for inter-informant information. Stabilities are similar across gender. To obtain a comprehensive picture of the young adult's functioning, information from related adults may prove valuable.

Continuity of psychopathology in youths referred to mental health services.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the stability and predictive strength of behavioral and emotional problems in childhood and adolescence. METHOD: A referred sample (N = 1,652), aged 4 to 18 years at initial assessment, was followed up after a mean interval of 6.2 years. Problem scores derived from Child Behavior Checklist, Youth Self-Report, and Teacher's Report Form at initial assessment (T1) were related to scores on the same instruments at follow-up (T2). RESULTS: Correlations between T1 and corresponding T2 problem scores averaged 0.41 intrainformant (range 0.22-0.61) and 0.22 interinformant (range -0.09-0.57). Stabilities were similar across gender, and larger for Externalizing versus Internalizing scores, except on youths' self-reports. Psychopathology scores at follow-up were predicted by corresponding T1 scores. Girls were predicted to have higher T2 Somatic Complaints, Anxious/Depressed, Thought Problems, and Internalizing scores than boys. Children younger at intake were predicted to have higher scores than older children on T2 Social and Attention Problems. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate continuity of specific behavioral and emotional problems in clinically referred children and adolescents.

Condom use by Dutch men with commercial heterosexual contacts: determinants and considerations.

We report responses from 559 clients of female prostitutes, with a view to determining to what extent previously identified factors play a part in condom use. To increase the response rate to advertisements in daily and weekly newspapers, interviews were held by phone. This procedure had the advantage of ensuring the anonymity many clients demanded. Of those clients having vaginal or anal contact (91%), 14% had not always used condoms in the previous year. Compared with consistent condom users, these men were less highly educated, had twice as many commercial contacts, and had more contacts with "steady" prostitutes. They were either more emotionally motivated to visit prostitutes than were consistent condom users or exhibited a stronger need for sexual variation. They showed a more compulsive attitude toward visiting prostitutes, had a more negative attitude toward prostitution in general, evaluated condoms more negatively, had a higher personal efficacy to achieve unsafe contacts, and had a higher general risk assessment, commensurate with their behavior. Men with only safe contacts had either an intrinsic or an extrinsic motivation for condom use. Among extrinsically motivated men, their behavior change was more recent and had not yet taken root: They still envisioned unsafe commercial sex to be possible in the future. Education aimed at the small group of men practicing unsafe contacts will not easily and directly lead to behavior change. But these educational activities may support prostitutes to persist in (consistent) condom use, regardless of clients' pressure to do otherwise.

PIP: The determinants of condom use with commercial sex workers were investigated in the Netherlands in 1993 through phone interviews with 559 male clients who responded to newspaper advertisements for anonymous study respondents. The mean age of respondents was 41 years; 53% were married. Clients had an average of 22 commercial sex contacts in the year preceding the interview. 91% reported vaginal intercourse and 17% anal intercourse. 14% of men in both groups had not used condoms consistently in these encounters. Compared with consistent condom users, the multivariate analysis indicated inconsistent users were less educated, reported twice as many commercial contacts, were more likely to visit steady prostitutes, had a stronger need for sexual variation, viewed condoms more negatively, and considered their risk of HIV infection to be high. The most frequently cited reasons for consistent condom use were fear of infection with HIV (50%) or another sexually transmitted disease (67%) and sex workers' refusal to have unprotected sex (27%). Many clients who reported consistent condom use did not view safer sex as an intrinsic choice, but rather as something forced on them by the prostitute. Given the importance of extrinsic motivation to safer sex practices for HIV prevention, prostitutes must be supported in their insistence on condom use.

Segmentation of heterosexual prostitution into various forms: a barrier to the potential transmission of HIV.

The results of an earlier Dutch study on prostitutes' clients, interviewed face-to-face, were cross-validated by means of telephone interviews, which both guaranteed anonymity and produced a larger sample of respondents (n = 559). Depending on their preference and financial resources, they had visited different types of prostitution; but about half of them had restricted themselves to one type. Inconsistent use of condoms was reported by 14% of the clients who had had vaginal or anal intercourse. Condoms were most frequently used in clubs, brothels and window prostitution, and least often in street, home and escort prostitution; in the last two sorts especially not with regular prostitutes. Whether or not prostitutes came from non-Western countries had no influence on protective behaviour of these clients. The formation of networks between different sorts of prostitution, through unsafe sexual contacts in two or more sorts, involved only 3% of respondents. Thus, prostitution in The Netherlands should be seen as a number of sparsely-connected networks rather than as a single network. The formation of networks between prostitution and the population at large is made possible by the 10% of the respondents who had had unsafe contacts with both commercial and private partners.

Isolation and characterization of a microspore-specific gene from tobacco.

The characterization of a gene with a unique microspore-specific expression pattern is reported. Isolated microspores from tobacco were used to synthesize a cDNA library. Clones that did not hybridize to leaf cDNA were further characterized by northern analysis. One clone proved to be a microspore-specific cDNA, representing a transcript of 650 nt. The corresponding gene, NTM19 (Nicotiana tabacum microspore-specific), was isolated and its sequence analysed. The gene encodes a protein of 10.8 kDa with a pI of 6.92 and a putative signal sequence at the N-terminus. A localization study revealed a unique spatial and temporal distribution. The transcript was only detected in the unicellular microspore. No hybridization signals were observed in other pollen developmental stages, nor in the surrounding anther tissues or other vegetative tissues of the plant. Therefore it can be concluded that NTM19 is a gene with a highly microspore-specific character according to both localization and stage of expression. Southern blot analysis demonstrated the presence of a small gene family. The occurrence of TNM19 was investigated in a range of closely and distantly related species and was found to be present in other solanaceous species, including the ancestors of tobacco and in a monocot species.

Luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone during testicular descent in the pig fetus.

To investigate the relationship between gonadotrophins, androgens and testicular descent in the pig fetus, serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and serum concentrations and testicular content of testosterone (T) and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) were determined by radioimmunoassay in 95 fetuses (48 males, 47 females) between Day 60 and Day 90 post coitum (p.c.). The testes were descended in 0% of fetuses at Day 60, 8% of fetuses at Day 70, 40% of fetuses at Day 80 and 87% of fetuses at Day 90 p.c. There was a significant increase in mean serum concentrations of LH in both male and female fetuses from Day 60 to Day 90, with a significant difference in mean serum concentrations of LH between male fetuses with a body mass < 350 g (4% of testes descended) and those with a body mass > 450 g (87% of testes descended), but not between male and female fetuses < 350 g or > 450 g in body mass. There was no significant difference in mean serum concentrations of FSH between male and female fetuses. Mean serum concentrations of T were significantly higher in male fetuses at Day 60 than in those at Days 70-90, with no significant difference in serum concentrations of DHT from Day 60 to Day 90 p.c. Testicular content of T and DHT showed a non-linear increase from Day 60 to Day 90 p.c. Although the serum concentration of T is elevated before, and decreased during, the period of descent, the testicular content of T and DHT increases during the period of descent, indicating that serum concentrations of LH and FSH may have an indirect effect on descent by stimulating testicular androgen synthesis.

Professional HIV risk taking, levels of victimization, and well-being in female prostitutes in The Netherlands.

Professional HIV risk taking (nonconsistent condom use with clients) of female prostitutes in The Netherlands is addressed within the context of (early) experiences with abuse, well-being, coping behavior, job satisfaction, and financial need. Data were gathered from 127 female prostitutes on condom use, financial need, and professional attitude, and on experiences with violence and abuse, physical complaints, psychosocial problems, and coping responses. Violent traumatic experiences were found to relate to more severe complaints and problems, and a higher frequency of emotion-focused coping strategies. A risk-taking protection style (as opposed to consistent condom use and selective risk taking) appeared to be associated with more severe experiences with violence, both in childhood and in adult life, with more frequent dissociation as a coping behavior, and with more psychosomatic complaints. Of all the relationships found, more severe experiences with violence on the job were most strongly related to a higher professional HIV risk.

Proliferation of gubernaculum cells induced by a substance of low molecular mass obtained from fetal pig testes.

To investigate the hormonal control of gubernacular development and testicular descent we determined the effect of gonadal extracts and various hormones on the proliferation of gubernaculum cell cultures established from 55 male pig fetuses obtained at 60 to 90 days' gestation. The percentage of descended testes was 0 at 60, 8% at 70, 40% at 80 and 87% at 90 days' gestation. Significant proliferation (as measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation) of gubernaculum, but not 3T3, cells was induced by crude testicular but not ovarian extracts, and was directly related to its protein concentration. Significant proliferation of gubernaculum cells was induced by low molecular mass (< 30 kD) testicular, but not by high molecular mass (> 30 kD), testicular and low or high molecular mass ovarian extracts obtained by centrifugation of crude extracts in microspin filter membranes with a molecular cut-off mass of 30 kD. Proliferation of gubernaculum cells induced by the low molecular mass (<30 kD) testicular extract was significantly greater than that stimulated by testosterone or dihydrotestosterone. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated a unique protein band at approximately 26 kD in the crude and low molecular mass testicular, but not in the ovarian, extracts. It is possible that this represents a novel peptide hormone secreted by the fetal testis, responsible for stimulating the growth of the gubernaculum, thereby mediating testicular descent.

Alcohol and drug use in heterosexual and homosexual prostitution, and its relation to protection behaviour.

To assess the prevalence and effects of alcohol and drug use in heterosexual and homosexual commercial contacts, and the relationship between their use and unsafe sexual behaviour, 127 female prostitutes, 27 male prostitutes, 91 clients of female prostitutes and 24 clients of male prostitutes were interviewed face-to-face with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire. The respondents were living or working in different parts of The Netherlands. Alcohol and drug use was found to be relatively common among prostitutes. This was also so for the use of alcohol by clients, though to a lesser extent. Prostitutes' consumption varied widely according to the type of prostitution they were employed in. Those meeting their clients in clubs or bars reported the highest consumption of alcohol; hard drugs were used predominantly by street prostitutes. It appears that the main effects of alcohol and drug use are on how the individual experiences working as, or calling on, a prostitute, the social interaction between the two parties, and the sexual contact itself. The common assumption that drinking alcohol has negative effects on condom use was not borne out; though female prostitutes working under the influence of drugs were significantly more likely to report unsafe sex. The degree to which commercial partners were judged to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs was not found to bear upon the frequency of respondents' condom use. For those prostitutes who use hard drugs, this use plays an important role in their engaging in unsafe sexual activities. Prevention activities should focus especially on this group, and should take into account the role of such drug use.

Isolation and identification of sex pheromone ofSymmetrischema tangolias (Gyen) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae).

The sex pheromone of the South American potato tuber mothSymmetrischema tangolias (syn.:Symmetrischema plaesiosema) was identified as a 2:1 mixture of (E,Z)-3,7-tetradecadien-1-ol acetate and (E)-3-tetradecen-1-ol acetate by means of dual-column GC, EAG, GC-EAD, GC-MS, NMR, and wind-tunnel bioassays. (Z)-5-Tetradecen-1-ol acetate and (Z)-7-tetradecen-1-ol acetate were also identified in the pheromone gland extract. MaleS. tangolias were able to detect these acetates (EAG), but their addition to the two-component sex pheromone did not improve attractiveness. Field trials in Cajamarca and Cusco, Peru, showed that traps baited with the synthetic sex pheromone were able to catch large numbers of maleS. tangolias.

Male prostitutes and safe sex: different settings, different risks.

Twenty-seven male prostitutes were interviewed extensively about their work and considerations relating to safe sex with clients. Important differences were found between street prostitutes and those working at home. Street-workers were more likely to be using hard drugs, to have a heterosexual preference, to have no other occupation, to have more clients, but less steady ones, and to have a more negative working attitude. Sexual techniques most often practised were manual and oral contact; however, most prostitutes also practised either insertive or receptive anal intercourse. Homosexual male prostitutes reported more receptive anal intercourse than did their heterosexual male colleagues; but no such differences were found in insertive anal intercourse. Prostitutes were most likely to have had anal intercourse with steady clients, with clients whom they trusted regarding condom use, or with clients they felt sexually attracted to; and also when in dire need of drugs. Of those who had practised anal intercourse in the previous year, a minority had not consistently used condoms. The same factors that encourage anal intercourse also appear conducive to unprotected intercourse.

PIP: 27 male prostitutes were interviewed in the Netherlands over the period July 1990 - January 1991 about their work and considerations relating to safe sex with clients. They were aged 18-40 of mean age 25 years, with 85% working in one of Holland's four largest cities, especially Amsterdam. No non-Dutch prostitutes were recruited. Sixteen worked in street prostitution, nine in home prostitution, and two in clubs or brothels. These latter prostitutes are underrepresented, however, because establishment owners were reluctant to grant permission to interview their boys. Street workers were of mean age 23 years compared to the mean age 29 years of men who worked at home. The prostitutes tended to pass back and forth between club/brothel prostitution and either street or home prostitution, with little interchange between street and home prostitution. All heterosexual street prostitutes used hard drugs, while all non-drug-using street prostitutes considered themselves to be gay or bisexual. The use of hard drugs, gambling habits, curiosity, and/or an interest in easy money prompted their entry into prostitution. Respondents began prostituting themselves at the average age 18 years. Street workers worked an average 26 hours per week with 30 clients at 67 guilders per sexual episode. Home workers, however, worked an average of 7 hours per week with 13 clients at 140 guilders per sexual episode. Street workers spend an average 42 minutes/client compared to the 79 minutes/client among home workers. Of the various types of prostitution, home prostitution corresponds closest to unpaid sex and intimate relationships. Four street workers and four home workers each participated in anal receptive sexual intercourse, while 12 street workers and 7 home workers participated in anal insertive sexual intercourse. 50% did not always use condoms during receptive intercourse, while four street workers and one home worker did not always use condoms during insertive intercourse. In the previous year, 30% of these men reported receptive intercourse and 74% insertive anal intercourse, mostly with low frequency. A reluctance to have anal receptive sex stemmed from their personal dislike of the activity and to some extent fear of HIV infection. Respondents were mainly negative about personally wearing condoms, but they still use them. There was a relatively low rate of condom use in orogenital sex because HIV transmission occurs mainly in anal sex. All were well-informed about which sex practices can definitely cause HIV transmission, although some uncertainty exists whether transmission can occur through oral intercourse or kissing. This study therefore found anal intercourse, especially the receptive form, to not be one of the sexual services which prostitutes in the Netherlands offer clients as a matter of course, and the rate of condom use in such intercourse is high.

[Risky life, risky business: AIDS risk of female prostitutes in the context of early abuse and well-being]. / Risky life, risky business? Aidsrisico van prostituees in het licht van geweldervaringen en welzijn.

PIP: Between July 1990 and March 1991, in the Netherlands, data were gathered by means of a semistructured questionnaire on condom use to assess the AIDS risk faced by 127 female prostitutes within the context of experiences with violence and abuse, well-being, physical and psychosocial problems, coping behavior, professional attitude, and financial need. 92 women had completed data on abuse. About 1 in 20 (4.3%) had experienced abuse both in their youth and adulthood. Only 1 in 5 women (22.8%) had not experienced any abuse, not even in their work. 57% of the respondents had experienced violence of one form or another in their work (physical or sexual violence). 45% of the women escaped abuse in private life (from being forced into prostitution, physical or sexual violence), while about 50% of them also experienced abuse in private life, in most cases associated with their work in prostitution. 48% and 8% of the women, respectively, experienced one or both forms of abuse in their youth and adult private life. The relationship between early experience and violence in private life was significant, as was that between violence in private life and violence in work (p .01). The relationship between violence in private life and complaints as well as coping strategies was less significant. However, there was a significant relationship between problem solving and other variables. Discrimination analysis was based on the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The strongest relationship was found between violence and protective behavior (condom use in intercourse) and the weakest between violence and age. Financial pressure and attitude to work also carried a relatively strong effect. The mean group values of discrimination functions were 3.29 for risk takers, -.23 for those with consistent protective behavior, and -.87 for women who exercised selective protective behavior.^ieng

Protection styles of prostitutes' clients: intentions, behavior, and considerations in relation to AIDS.

PIP: The perceived costs and benefits of condom use within the context of commercial sex were examined in interviews with 87 clients of female Dutch prostitutes. 8 types of condom users were identified: convinced (46% of the study group), guilty conscience (11%), anti-ridden (13%), defaulting (6%), maximum selective (8%), minimum selective (3%), indifferent (8%), and recalcitrant (5%). Clients who consistently used condoms take responsibility for both the pleasure and safety of their sexual encounter; their attitude toward prostitution is positive and straightforward. Guilty conscience users are motivated to use condoms by feelings of guilt toward their wife and are ambivalent about their participation in commercial sex. Angst-ridden users are motivated to seek out prostitutes more by loneliness than the pursuit of sexual pleasure; they view their personal risk of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) as higher than that reported by consistent users and thus are motivated by fear to use condoms. Defaulting users perceive themselves as the victims of temptation and express a lack of control over the sexual encounter that places them at risk of unprotected sex. Maximum selective users are consistent in using condoms in sex with prostitutes, except when it involves a prostitute whom they see regularly and frequently. Minimum selective users seek frequent contact with prostitutes and base condom use on a subjective assessment of whether the woman is healthy or not. Indifferent users, often disabled and lonely men with no other source of sexual contact, base their condom use or nonuse solely on the wishes of the prostitute. Finally, recalcitrant users are characterized by a desire for power and protest condom use. In general, consistent condom use was related to a positive evaluation of prostitutes, positive attitudes toward the advantages of condom use, an internal locus of control with regard to health, and a higher level of education.^ieng

The effectiveness of condom use in heterosexual prostitution in The Netherlands.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the extent to which condoms are used effectively in commercial heterosexual intercourse. Data on the number of condoms that had broken or slipped off, the sexual technique during which this had occurred and the perceived cause of failure were collected. The use of non-water-soluble lubricants and non-fortified condoms during anal intercourse, and the demand for a greater variety of condom sizes were also examined. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty-seven female prostitutes and 91 male clients from different parts of The Netherlands were interviewed face-to-face between July 1990 and March 1991. RESULTS: Of those who used condoms during vaginal intercourse, 49% of the prostitutes had experienced condom breakage in the previous 6 months, and 16% of the clients in the previous 12 months. The breakage rate was 0.8% for prostitutes and 1.5% for clients. Condom quality was seldom reported as the cause; breakage was generally attributed to human factors, such as rough or prolonged intercourse, incorrect handling of the condom or the use of insufficient lubricant. Prostitutes also identified penis size as a cause. Condoms slipping off before or after ejaculation was reported less frequently than breakage. Thirteen per cent of clients and 36% of prostitutes expressed a need for either smaller or larger condoms. Of the prostitutes, 9% used oil or vaseline as a lubricant. CONCLUSIONS: In view of the low rate of condom failure in heterosexual prostitution in The Netherlands, the potential spread of HIV by this means is small. The use of a greater variety of condom sizes may further reduce the failure rate. Few prostitutes remain ignorant about the adverse effects of oil-based lubricants on condoms.

Condom use by prostitutes: behavior, factors and considerations.

PIP: 119 female prostitutes were interviewed over the period July 1990-March 1991 about their sex behavior and condom use, their working attitude, and perception of risk in an attempt to combine qualitative and quantitative research methods to gain insight into the determinants of condom use in prostitution by putting high or low risk taking behavior into context. The participants were recruited from different regions of the Netherlands, of mean age 29.8 years, and had been working in the field for an average 6.8 years. Most of the 28% of participants who did not have Dutch nationality were from Germany or Latin America. Health locus of control and attributions concerning an unpleasant proceeding of client contacts were assessed by means of item lists. Prostitutes were identified as either consistent condom users, selective risk takers, or risk takers. Consistent condom users used condoms on all occasions, selective risk takers used condoms for vaginal sex with all but a few selected clients, and risk takers seeing no possibility of consistently getting clients to use a condom for vaginal sex used condoms the least frequently. 78% were consistent users, 11% were selective risk takers, and 11% were risk takers. Protection behavior was found to be linked to working attitude. Condom use is most likely among women with a moderately positive, yet businesslike, working attitude, and least likely among those with a negative working attitude and when there is no positive identification with the professional group. It appears that health locus of control is of no influence on protection style, but risk takers attribute an unpleasant proceeding of client contacts significantly more to powerlessness and helplessness. The authors conclude that the objective situation of women influences condom use at least as strongly as subjective motivations.^ieng