1. Maria A. Carrasco, MPP, MPH, PhD (candidate)
Developing a typology of the Latino immigrant sex industry in a new receiving community to aid in HIV prevention efforts
Maria A. Carrasco, MPP, MPH, PhD (candidate)

2. Presenter disclosures
There are no relationships to disclosure

3. Agenda Background Research goal and objectives Theoretical framework
Current findings about sex work typology
Lessons learned about recruitment of study participants

4. Background
Latinos disproportionally affected by HIV in the USA and Baltimore
Latino immigrants are prone to hire services of sex workers
FSWs are at high risk of HIV/STI infection and onward transmission
Little is known about the context of sex work among this immigrant population to inform local HIV prevention efforts

5. Research gap
Latino immigrant community has unique political, economic, and social position
Very little information about the context and risk environment faced by Latina immigrant FSWs and their Latino immigrant clients

6. Research goal
To characterize the risk environment of formal and informal sex work in the local Latino immigrant population and develop appropriate harm reduction strategies.

7. Research objectives
To identify the context and risk environment of sex work services utilized by foreign-born Latino men in Baltimore
Develop a typology of sex work in Baltimore
Develop and pilot a survey focused on variations within the sex work risk environments identified

8. Framework
Pitpitan et al. Cur HIV/AIDS Rep. 2013, 10:65-78

9. Current progress Ethnographic observation
Unstructured interviews/conversations
In-depth semi-structured interviews with 6 FSW, 10 clients and 3 key informants (KI).
Goal is to interview 15 FSW, 20 clients, and 10 KI

10. Independent Casual Worker House Truck Bar Worker Street Based Online
Delivery Service
Independent Casual Worker
House
Truck
Bar Worker
Street Based
Online
Note: It is unclear if these are
actually connected
Most are run by NY-based owners; others in VA, MD, NJ and NY
2-3 girls are in a house for one week then moved
Some girls work the weekend only then live elsewhere during the week
Bosses require HIV testing; condoms used often; grain alcohol used as vaginal cleaner by some; may have private doctors do HIV screenings
Trafficking involved, not clear to what extent
Management may be related to the houses who also advertise by cards.
Men drive in trucks handing out cards to advertise women
Women may be in car with them
Only mentioned by one person who said this was new
Women work completely by themselves on an as needed basis to supplement income
Men can call directly and the women go to their house
Alternatively women can have an immediate customer by giving a man “the eyes”
Seen as very common by the women who do this
Women report condom use
Have encountered violence (i.e., rape)
Perceive themselves as empowered
No direct management but bar managers are aware and make money from selling drinks
Men purchase drinks for women at high price and this buys company and various levels of touching
Can pay extra for sex with different rules by bar/club
Competition between women
High presence of violence
Women work independently
Rare; know very little
Most (all we have encountered) addicted to heroin and/or cocaine
Recently notified of an abandoned house with drug addicted immigrant Latina FSW living inside
One informant said that traffickers inject women with high dose of heroin and then dump them at an unknown area of town when they are no longer wanted
Women may work independently or with a pimp
Websites provided are social networking sites and not sex-specific
Girls who are trafficked are also in this market

11. Common risk factors Venue Fee Pimp Violence Alcohol use Drug use House?
Yes
Truck
Independent ~$ No
Bar worker ~$
Street based
$30
Online
~$100
Yes/no

12. Lessons learned: Recruitment
Facilitators to success
Outreach workers’ and researchers’ established community relationships
Years of being seen/known in areas/venues
Gaining additional trust and expanding network
Great flexibility of scheduling interviews, including at a moments notice
Fair incentives and recruitment money
$100 for FSW and KI, $50 for referrals

13. Additional Considerations
Building trust in the community is crucial and takes time
Researchers must be cognizant of the fact that most Latino immigrants do not have past experience in research
Researchers should be able to provide participants with information on resources in the community
Researchers should engage community leaders and organizations at all stages of research

14. Thank you! Contributors Suzanne Grieb Alejandra Flores-Miller
Carla Zelaya
Fidel Desir
Susan Sherman
Kathleen Page
Baltimore City Health Department Latino Outreach Team