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Estimating the Population Size of Female Sex Worker Population in Tehran, Iran: Application of Direct Capture–Recapture Method Publisher Pubmed



Karami M1, 2 ; Khazaei S3 ; Poorolajal J4 ; Soltanian A5 ; Sajadipoor M2
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
  2. 2. Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
  3. 3. Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Research Center for Health Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
  5. 5. Modeling of Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

Source: AIDS and Behavior Published:2017


Abstract

There is no reliable estimate of the size of female sex workers (FSWs). This study aimed to estimate the size of FSWs in south of Tehran, Iran in 2016 using direct capture–recapture method. In the capture phase, the hangouts of FSWs were mapped as their meeting places. FSWs who agreed to participate in the study tagged with a T-shirt. The recapture phase was implemented at the same places tagging FSWs with a blue bracelet. The total estimated size of FSWs was 690 (95% CI 633, 747). About 89.43% of FSWs experienced sexual intercourse prior to age 20. The prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus infection among FSWs was 4.60%. The estimated population size of FSWs was much more than our expectation. This issue must be the focus of special attention for planning prevention strategies. However, alternative estimates require to estimating the number FSWs, reliably. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media New York.