Social characterization of prostitutes front the integral vision of the health

Abstract

This is a descriptive-quantitative study with the objective of describing the epidemiological and socioeconomic profile of prostitutes working in the Fortaleza downtown area. Interviews were held with 81 prostitutes, in October 2005. Most of them were young women from other towns, single women with children, with frequent stories of abortions, low level of education, low monthly income associated with the occurrence of STD and not having any other occupation apart from prostitution. Also, they were new in this profession and the number of clients was associated with age. These results showed that the prostitutes researched are part of an underprivileged population with socio-economics and epidemiological factors that influence the behavior and adoption of safe practices. The results, therefore, showed the importance of healthy public politics directed at populations at risk, with health determinants which are incompatible with the quality of life.