Citation

Lyons C, Ketende S, Drame F, Grosso A, Diouf D, Ba I, Shannon K, Ezouatchi R, Bamba A, Kouame A, Baral S. J. Acquir. Immune Defic. Syndr. (LWW) 2017; 75(1): 9-17.

Affiliation

1Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health and Human Rights, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 2Gaston Berger University, Department of Geography, School of Social Sciences, St. Louis, Senegal 3Enda Santé, Dakar, Senegal 4Programme National de Lutte Contre le SIDA, Ministere de la Lutte Contre Le SIDA, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire 5Gender and Sexual Health Initiative, B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia 6Enda Santé, Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/QAI.0000000000001310

PMID

28169873

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Violence is a human rights violation, and an important measure in understanding HIV among female sex workers (FSW). However, limited data exist regarding correlates of violence among FSW in Côte d'Ivoire. Characterizing prevalence and determinants of violence and the relationship with structural risks for HIV can inform development and implementation of comprehensive HIV prevention and treatment programs.

METHODS: FSW > 18 years were recruited through respondent driven sampling (RDS) in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. In total, 466 participants completed a socio-behavioral questionnaire and HIV testing. Prevalence estimates of violence were calculated using crude and RDS adjusted estimates. Relationships between structural risk factors and violence were analyzed using chi squared tests, and multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS: RDS Police refusal of protection was associated with physical (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR]:2.6; 95%CI: 1.7,4.4) and sexual violence (aOR: 3.0; 95%CI: 1.9,4.8). Blackmail was associated with physical (aOR: 2.5; 95%CI: 1.5,4.2) and sexual violence (aOR: 2.4; 95%CI: 1.5,4.0). Physical violence was associated with fear (aOR: 2.2; 95%CI: 1.3,3.1) and avoidance of seeking health services (aOR:1.7; 95%CI:1.1-2.6).

CONCLUSIONS: Violence is prevalent among FSW in Abidjan and associated with features of the work environment. These relationships highlight layers of rights violations affecting FSW, underscoring the need for structural interventions and policy reforms to improve work environments; and to address police harassment, stigma, and rights violations to reduce violence and improve access to HIV interventions.

Language: en