Complementing the work of other Avahan partners who focus on commercial sex workers, PSI
focuses on their male clients.

Men are an essential target audience as they are the bridge population between commercial sex workers and the general community. Men also have a great deal of decision-making authority when it comes to condom use. Current estimates of the size of the male clients of sex workers in the 100
priority towns are between 1 to 5.5 million men. PSI’s research indicates that 27% of men in priority
towns have paid for sex in the past 12 months, and 12% of men have had an STI in the past 12
months. [PSI’s 2006 Behaviour Change Impact Survey (BCIS)]. In order to address health
inequities, PSI focuses on those clients in Social Economic Classes C, D and E.

Male clients of sex workers in these areas do not fall into many of the commonly held stereotypes.
They cannot be defined by age (they are between 18-44 years but there is no greater probability
of a younger or older man paying for sex). Most (65%) are married and 80% of those live with their
wives. About half (48%) have at least a secondary education. The majority (67%) have lived in the
same town since birth, and an additional 20% have lived in their current town for more than 2
years. Only 25% travel out of town more than 2 days per month.