TY - JOUR
T1 - Decriminalization of Sex Work Is Not Associated with More Men Paying for Sex
T2 - Results from the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships
AU - Rissel, C.
AU - Donovan, B.
AU - Yeung, A.
AU - de Visser, R. O.
AU - Grulich, A.
AU - Simpson, J. M.
AU - Richters, J.
PY - 2017/3/1
Y1 - 2017/3/1
N2 - It has been claimed that the decriminalization of sex work may result in its proliferation, but there is no evidence to prove or disprove this claim. We investigated whether decriminalization was associated with the prevalence of paying for sex. A representative national sample of 8074 Australian men interviewed by telephone reported whether they had paid for sex ever and in the last 12 months. Cross-sectional associations between paying for sex in the last 12 months and their jurisdiction’s legal approach to sex work (criminalized, licensed, or decriminalized), were examined with logistic regression analysis, controlling for demographic variables and relationship status. Overall, 2.2 % of the men reported paying for sex in the past year—a proportion that was not statistically different by state or territory (P = 0.26). The only variable that was associated with paying for sex was not having a regular sexual partner, or to a lesser extent, not living with a regular partner. Being aged 16–19 years was associated with lower odds of paying for sex. Being a male without a regular partner was associated with paying for sex. The legal approach to sex work in the respondent’s state of residence was not associated with having paid for sex.
AB - It has been claimed that the decriminalization of sex work may result in its proliferation, but there is no evidence to prove or disprove this claim. We investigated whether decriminalization was associated with the prevalence of paying for sex. A representative national sample of 8074 Australian men interviewed by telephone reported whether they had paid for sex ever and in the last 12 months. Cross-sectional associations between paying for sex in the last 12 months and their jurisdiction’s legal approach to sex work (criminalized, licensed, or decriminalized), were examined with logistic regression analysis, controlling for demographic variables and relationship status. Overall, 2.2 % of the men reported paying for sex in the past year—a proportion that was not statistically different by state or territory (P = 0.26). The only variable that was associated with paying for sex was not having a regular sexual partner, or to a lesser extent, not living with a regular partner. Being aged 16–19 years was associated with lower odds of paying for sex. Being a male without a regular partner was associated with paying for sex. The legal approach to sex work in the respondent’s state of residence was not associated with having paid for sex.
KW - Australia
KW - Cross-sectional studies
KW - Government regulation
KW - Legislation as topic
KW - Men
KW - Prostitution/legislation and jurisprudence
KW - Prostitution/statistics and numerical data
KW - Sex workers
KW - Sexual behavior
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84959075799&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/NHMRC/1002174
U2 - 10.1007/s13178-016-0225-1
DO - 10.1007/s13178-016-0225-1
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84959075799
VL - 14
SP - 81
EP - 86
JO - Sexuality Research and Social Policy
JF - Sexuality Research and Social Policy
SN - 1868-9884
IS - 1
ER -