Got a question about HIV/AIDS? Ask Sis’ Lebo! She answers every question with honest and practical advice based on the facts.

Learn from each other: if you agree, we will publish your question (without your name or email address of course), together with Sis’ Lebo’s answer so others can benefit from it. See what other people have asked.

Please enter the word you see in the image below:


Ask Sis’ Lebo tab

How many sex workers have HIV?

My friends want me to have sex with a prostitute as part of my 18th birthday present, but I’m very worried about catching HIV. I wanted to know, among sex workers in this country, what percentage are infected with HIV? Also, if I do have sex with a prostitute, should I use two condoms at once to make sure I protect myself?

Happy 18th birthday! I wish you all of the best as you enter adulthood. South Africa has a generalised epidemic. This means that people, especially between the ages of 15 and 39, have HIV, irrespective of whether or not they are involved in sex work or not. Therefore, it will be advisable to use condoms when you have sex, unless you and your partner have tested negative and you are only having sex with each other. I do not think that using two condoms will protect you. In fact, the second condom may just cause the condoms to break.

Good luck and take care,

Sis’ Lebo

Please note the views of Sis’ Lebo do not necessarily reflect the views of 46664. Any links to external websites do not constitute an endorsement of the content therein.