Citation

Stockton MA, Pence BW, Mbote D, Oga EA, Kraemer J, Kimani J, Njuguna S, Maselko J, Nyblade L. Int. J. Public Health 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Global Health Division, International Development Group, RTI International, Washington, DC, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00038-020-01370-x

PMID

32347313

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study (1) estimated the association between experienced sex work-related stigma and moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms (hereafter depression), (2) examined independent associations between internalized stigma, experienced stigma, and depression among sex workers, and (3) investigated the potential modifying role of social support.

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 729 male and female sex workers in Kenya.

RESULTS: The prevalence of depression was 33.9%, and nearly all participants reported at least one of the experienced and internalized stigma items. Increasing levels of experienced stigma was associated with an increased predicted prevalence of depression [aPD 0.15 (95% CI 0.11-0.18)]. Increasing internalized stigma was independently associated with higher experienced stigma and depression and appeared to account for 25.5% of the shared variance between experienced stigma and depression after adjustment for confounders. Social support from same-sex sex workers did not appear to modify the association between experienced stigma and depression.

CONCLUSIONS: Addressing the high levels of stigma that sex workers face and their mental health needs should be a public health and human rights imperative.

Language: en

Keywords

Depression; Discrimination; Kenya; Sex work; Stigma; Sub-Saharan Africa