Citation

Deering KN, Bhattacharjee P, Mohan HL, Bradley J, Shannon K, Boily MC, Ramesh BM, Isac S, Moses S, Blanchard J. Sex. Transm. Dis. 2013; 42(2): 168-174.

Affiliation

From the *Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; †Karnataka Health Promotion Trust, Bangalore, India; ‡Laval University, Quebec City, Canada; §Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Imperial College, London, UK; Departments of ¶Medical Microbiology and ∥Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Manitoba, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/OLQ.0b013e31827df174

PMID

23324982

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study characterized the type and frequency of violence against female sex workers (FSWs) perpetrated by their clients and their main intimate or other nonpaying partner (NPP) and examined the relationship between violence and inconsistent condom use (ICU, <100%). The factors associated with client violence were also assessed. METHODS: Data were analyzed from cross-sectional surveys of FSWs in Karnataka state (2007-2008), India. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the following: (1) relationship between client or NPP violence (physical and/or sexual) and ICU by occasional/repeat clients or the NPP and (2) relationship between social and environmental factors and client violence. RESULTS: Of 1219 FSWs, 9.6% (111) and 3.7% (42) reported experiencing violence by clients and the NPP, respectively. In multivariable analysis, after adjusting for social and environmental factors, the odds of ICU by occasional clients were significantly higher for women who had experienced client violence (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.7; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.6-4.4). Similar results were found with repeat clients (AOR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.4-3.4). Nonpaying partner violence was not significantly associated with ICU by the NPP. In multivariable analysis, only being recently arrested remained significantly associated with experiencing client violence (AOR, 1.8; 95% CIs, 1.0-3.3). CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study provide evidence of a relationship between experiencing client violence and ICU by occasional and repeat clients, and a relationship between being arrested and client violence. Comprehensive structural/policy programming for FSWs, including within HIV-focused prevention programs, is urgently needed to help reduce FSWs' vulnerability to violence.

Language: en