Background: Despite their relevance to the prevention of sexually transmitted
infections, there are few data on the frequency of recourse to
prostitution in the male population in Switzerland. Using data
gathered for the evaluation of the Swiss AIDS prevention
strategy, we analysed net aggregate change and cohort-based
change in lifetime prevalence of recourse to prostitution.
Methods: Seven repeated cross-sectional telephone surveys of the general
population aged 17-45 years (17-30 years only for the 1987 and
1988 surveys) were undertaken from 1987 to 2000 providing
information on sexual behaviour including men's recourse to
prostitution (total n¼9318). Age categories were: 17-20, 21-25,
26-30, 31-35, 36-40 and 41-45 years. Prevalence at 17-30 years
was available in all surveys and prevalence at 41-45 was available
for 1989-2000, though not for the same cohorts. Intra-cohort
increase in prevalence over 10 years was analysed using
truncated information for cohorts aged 21-25 and 26-30 years
in 1987 and 1990. Population estimates were computed with
95% confidence intervals (CI).
Results: No net change occurred in the 17-45 years male population
prevalence between 1989 (17.6%, CI ¼ 15.4; 20.0) and 2000
(17.7%, CI ¼ 15.6; 20.0). The median starting prevalence of
recourse to prostitution at age 17-20 was 4.8% (in 1989,
CI ¼ 2.0; 9.7) and the range was from 1.8 (in 1994) to 10.4%
(in 1990). The median ending prevalence at age 41-45 was
21.9% (in 1994, CI 16.7; 27.9) and the range was from 17.9
(in 2000) to 26.1% (in 1992). No clear trend was observed in
either starting or ending prevalence. Intra-cohort evolution of
the 1997 and 1990 cohorts was very similar.
Conclusions: Based on available data, there was no net (aggregate) change
in the prevalence of recourse to prostitution by males in
Switzerland between 1989 and 2000. Within the time frame
available, intra-cohort evolution was also very similar.