Knowledge About and Health Practices on Sexually Transmitted Infections among Commercial Sex Workers in an Urban Community

This study is a descriptive-relational research, determined the knowledge about sexually transmitted infections, knowledge on the services offered by the social hygiene clinic, and the health practices among commercial sex workers in an urban community. The respondents were knowledgeable about sexually transmitted infections specifically on the transmission, prevention, and the signs and symptoms of the disease. They also knew that the social hygiene clinic offers free consultation, one-on-one counseling, reading materials, and diagnostic tools. The respondents did not have correct promotive health practice, however, they had better preventive, curative, and rehabilitative measures. The relationship between the knowledge about sexually transmitted infections and knowledge on the services offered by the social hygiene clinic, and the health practices of the sex workers did not yield significant results. The findings suggest that a more comprehensive approach which provides a range of services to commercial sex workers including information dissemination, sexually transmitted infections promotive program, and health education should be sustained and strengthened.