Men from U.S., Mexico report 'risky' sex with Tijuana prostitutes, study finds

A large percentage of men who regularly have sex with prostitutes in Tijuana do not use condoms and have a history of drug and alcohol abuse, according to a binational study published Friday in the online journal AIDS.

Of 400 men who answered questions for researchers from Mexico and UC San Diego, about half were from Mexico and the rest from the U.S., which suggests that their risky behavior could spread AIDS and other diseases on both sides of the border.

The researchers said that Tijuana has a "thriving" prostitution trade and though local authorities regularly test registered "sex workers" for AIDS, only about half of prostitutes have registered or been tested.

More than half of the men had had unprotected sex within the last four months, the researchers found. The average customer is 36 years old, unmarried and visits prostitutes more than 25 times a year.

Many reported being under the influence of drugs, particularly methamphetamine, while having sex with a prostitute.

Thomas L. Patterson of the UC San Diego's department of psychiatry and the Veterans Affairs health center, said the study's results show the need for an education campaign aimed at men who frequent prostitutes about the dangers involved.

-- Tony Perry in San Diego

Comments

[little italy]

how sad people don't realize that you are just not sleeping with the person they are sleeping with every person has slept with and it only takes one to get AIDS

[tjinla2001]

I have unprotected sex woth korean prostitutes in LA massage parlors about 20 times a year. Its called bareback full service. I don't do drugs and am a middle aged white. You don't have to go to Mexico to have dangerous sex. Its a dangerous but addictive.

[Eric]

36 year old men, on meth, having unprotected sex with Mexican hookers twice a month. Exactly what could you possibly teach them?

[theidahokid]

Keep your money home, use your local hookers....