# ASSESSING BEHAVIOR AMONG WOMEN AT HIGH RISK OF HIV

> **NIH NIH R01** · RAND CORPORATION · 1993 · $161,821

## Abstract

The goal of this study is to increase scientific knowledge of the
demographic and behavioral characteristics of female prostitutes,
especially as they bear on the heterosexual transmission of HIV infection
and other sexually transmitted diseases.  The study will draw upon
interview data collected between May 1990 and February 1991 from a
probability sample of 998 street prostitutes in Los Angeles County, a
subsample of 638 of whom provided serological data that were tested for
markers for HIV-1 infection and past or present infection with syphilis and
hepatitus B.

Preliminary analyses indicate that the data are of good quality and the
sample presents a little studied population that is demographically and
behaviorally at high risk for transmission of STDs.  Almost 69 percent of
respondents were black, and 9 percent were Hispanic.  Respondents had
worked an average of 6.4 years on the street and saw a mean of 30.2 clients
a week; 30 percent had also worked in a crack house.  Approximately 75
percent sail they would agree not to use a condom some of the time in
response to a specific request for a client; 20 percent had used
intravenous drugs in the six months preceding the interview.

Sampling histories and interview data were used to construct weights that
support inferences about the size of Los Angeles County's work force of
female street prostitutes.  The proposed research will extend these
analyses (10 to analyze the characteristics of women involved in street
prostitution in Los Angeles County during the field period; (2) develop
weighted incidence estimates for encounters between street prostitutes and
their clients and profile these encounters; (3) analyze the most recent
prostitute/client transaction with respect to client, prostitute, and
situational variables associated with engaging in risky sexual acts.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2199338
- **Project number:** 5R01HD024897-04
- **Recipient organization:** RAND CORPORATION
- **SAM.gov UEI:** YY46Q97AEZA8
- **Principal Investigator:** DAVID E KANOUSE
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1993
- **Award amount:** $161,821
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1989-06-01 → 1995-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2199338

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2199338, ASSESSING BEHAVIOR AMONG WOMEN AT HIGH RISK OF HIV (5R01HD024897-04). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2199338. Licensed CC0.

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