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Ong JJ, Xiong M, Tucker JD, Wang Y, Smith MK, Tang W, Fu H, Zheng H, Yang B, Wang C. Sexualized Drug Use Among Female Sex Workers from Eight Cities in China: A Cross-Sectional Study. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2022; 51:2689-2698. [PMID: 34786656 PMCID: PMC8594644 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-021-02117-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
There is a rich literature on sexualized drug use (i.e., drug use before or during sex) for men who have sex with men but less data from female sex workers (FSW), particularly from low- and middle-income countries. We describe the sexual and reproductive health outcomes in FSW reporting sexualized drug use. In 2019, we conducted a cross-sectional study in eight cities from seven provinces in China. We recruited FSW through community organizations working with sex workers and included those aged 18 years or above, exchanged sex at least once for money or goods in the past three months, and had traded sex for longer than a year. Multivariable logistic regression models were used. In total, 650 women participated: average age was 38.8 years (SD 10.2), 57.1% reported a monthly income over 5000 RMB ($USD 707), and 12.8% completed high school or above. Among participants, 65 (10.0%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 7.8-12.6) reported a history of sexualized drug use. Compared to FSW who never reported a history of sexualized drug use, FSW who reported a history of sexualized drug use had greater odds of working for a manager compared to being self-employed (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 4.04, 95% CI 2.12-7.69), work in a sauna (AOR 2.43, 95% CI 1.09-5.41), charging a higher price for vaginal sex (AOR 2.15, 95% CI 1.14-4.06), and ever diagnosed with STIs (AOR 4.51, 95% CI 2.61-7.80). One in ten FSW reported sexualized drug use. Although they had similar risk profiles in terms of consistency of condom use and reproductive health outcomes, these women were more likely to report past STIs than those who reported no sexualized drug use. Health workers who work with substance users should devote attention to the sexual practices of their clients to make sure that they have safer sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason J Ong
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Mingzhou Xiong
- Dermatology Hospital of Southern Medical University, No. 2 Lujing Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510095, China
- Southern Medical University Institute for Global Health and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Joseph D Tucker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Yajie Wang
- Dermatology Hospital of Southern Medical University, No. 2 Lujing Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510095, China
- Southern Medical University Institute for Global Health and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - M Kumi Smith
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
| | - Weiming Tang
- Dermatology Hospital of Southern Medical University, No. 2 Lujing Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510095, China
| | - Hongyun Fu
- Division of Community Health and Research, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Heping Zheng
- Dermatology Hospital of Southern Medical University, No. 2 Lujing Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510095, China
- Southern Medical University Institute for Global Health and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Bin Yang
- Dermatology Hospital of Southern Medical University, No. 2 Lujing Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510095, China
- Southern Medical University Institute for Global Health and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Cheng Wang
- Dermatology Hospital of Southern Medical University, No. 2 Lujing Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510095, China.
- Southern Medical University Institute for Global Health and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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Raya NAJ, Krisnawati KMS, Pramitaresthi IGA. Sexual behavior experience of former injecting drug users infected with HIV in Bali, Indonesia. ENFERMERIA CLINICA 2021. [PMID: 33357807 DOI: 10.1016/j.enfcli.2020.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) have become a serious concern in public health due to their potential in HIV transmission. This study aims to describe the sexual behavior experience of former IDUs infected with HIV in Bali, Indonesia. A qualitative study with a phenomenology approach was conducted using purposive sampling. Five former IDUs infected with HIV were selected and analyzed using a thematic analysis. The finding showed two themes; (1) knowledge related to drugs and HIV/AIDS, and (2) risky sexual behavior which consisted of sex with many close friends and using local prostitutes, sex after a drug party or after using drugs, preference for vaginal sex, engaging in sex despite having a known HIV positive status, and not using condoms frequently. This finding can be used to recommend that nurses and other health care providers work collaboratively and comprehensively in preventing the new cases of HIV caused by the risky sexual behavior of the IDUs.
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Pinedo González R, Palacios Picos A, de la Iglesia Gutiérrez M. "Surviving the Violence, Humiliation, and Loneliness Means Getting High": Violence, Loneliness, and Health of Female Sex Workers. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2021; 36:4593-4614. [PMID: 30084291 DOI: 10.1177/0886260518789904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Sex workers are particularly vulnerable to violence, isolation, and stigmatization. This study uses the theory of loneliness to explore the relations among violence, self-esteem, loneliness, health, and drug use. Specifically, this study tested a model in which loneliness mediates the relationship between situational (violence) and characterological (self-esteem) loneliness factors and physical and psychological health and drug abuse. The study sample consisted of 146 sex workers from one region of Spain, recruited through the purposive sampling method. Partial least squares (PLS) path modeling has been employed to test the hypothesis. The findings of this study suggest that two kinds of violence (physical and psychological) have a direct and positive influence on loneliness, so that higher levels of violence increase loneliness, while self-esteem has a protector role on loneliness. Loneliness has a direct and negative impact on psychological and physical health, and determines an increase in drug use, which, in turn, decreases both physical and psychological health. The results support, among other points, that policy makers and sex worker service programs need to be aware of how loneliness plays a role in the health and risk behavior of sex workers. Society has an important role to improve sex workers' health and minimize their risk behavior.
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Gonzalez C, Brouwer KC, Reed E, Nicholls MJ, Kim J, Gonzalez-Zuniga PE, Gaeta-Rivera A, Urada LA. Women Trading Sex in a U.S.-Mexico Border City: A Qualitative Study of the Barriers and Facilitators to Finding Community and Voice. SEXES 2020; 1:1-18. [PMID: 34386640 PMCID: PMC8357315 DOI: 10.3390/sexes1010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Poverty and income inequality can increase a woman's decision to engage in risky transactional sex, and may lead to unimaginable harms, such as violence, substance use, and human trafficking. This study examines the facilitators and barriers to finding community and voice among women trading sex in Tijuana, Mexico, and what factors, such as socio-structural support, violence, and substance use, may impact their potential to engage with others, including human service providers. Sixty qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with women trading sex in Tijuana, Mexico. Researchers met with participants for in-depth-face-to-face structured interviews. Data were coded using ATLAS.ti. Participants were aged 19-73 (mean: 37), 98% were of Mexican nationality, 90% reported trading sex independent of the control of others, with 58% identified as independent and street-based. Thirty percent of women trading sex reported substance use (excluding marijuana) and 20% reported injection drug use within 30 days. The majority reported no involvement in mobilization activities, but 85% expressed interest. However, barriers included stigma, cultural gender norms, partner violence, and privacy in regards to disclosure of sex trade involvement, moral conflict (revealing one's involvement in sex trade), involvement in substance use, human trafficking, and feeling powerless. Facilitators were having a safe space to meet, peer support, self-esteem, feeling heard, knowledge of rights, economic need to support families, and staying healthy. Findings imply the potential to go beyond mobilizing limited groups of women in the sex trade and instead involve whole community mobilization; that is, to reach and include the more vulnerable women (substance use, trafficked) in supportive services (social services, exit strategies, better healthcare opportunities, and/or education for healthcare providers to help break societal stigmas regarding women in the sex trade) and to change the status of women in society in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Gonzalez
- College of Health and Human Services, San Diego State University School of Social Work, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
| | - Kimberly C. Brouwer
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Elizabeth Reed
- Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, San Diego State University School of Public Health, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
- Center on Gender Equity and Health, University of California, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Melanie J. Nicholls
- College of Health and Human Services, San Diego State University School of Social Work, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Jessica Kim
- Center for Justice and Reconciliation, Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, CA 92106, USA
| | | | - Andrés Gaeta-Rivera
- Instituto Chihuahuense de Salud Mental, 31000 Chihuahua, Mexico
- School of Medicine and Psychology, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, 21289 Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
| | - Lianne A. Urada
- College of Health and Human Services, San Diego State University School of Social Work, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Center on Gender Equity and Health, University of California, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Correspondence:
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Muñoz-Ramírez A, López-Monteon A, Ramos-Ligonio A, Méndez-Bolaina E, Guapillo-Vargas MRB. Prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis and Human papillomavirus in female sex workers in Central Veracruz, Mexico. Rev Argent Microbiol 2018; 50:351-358. [PMID: 29548730 DOI: 10.1016/j.ram.2017.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Revised: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 11/09/2017] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Female sex workers (FSWs) have been considered a key population for sexually transmitted infections (STIs); therefore, they are periodically screened as a requirement to obtain a work card. However, there is insufficient epidemiological data on STIs among FSWs in Mexico. The detection of Trichomonas vaginalis is limited to microscopic studies and the molecular screening of Human papillomavirus (HPV) is only done to women 35 years of age and older. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of T. vaginalis and HPV infections in FSWs in the city of Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico. Samples from 105 FSWs were obtained by cervical swab and analyzed. The identification of T. vaginalis and HPV was performed by molecular methods. HPV DNA was identified in 5.71% of the samples with the presence of HPV16, HPV18, and HPV58. A percentage of 25.7% samples were positive for T. vaginalis for optical microscopy and 23.8% for PCR. The results of the study indicate the need to incorporate more sensitive methods for the timely diagnosis of STIs as well as comprehensive health promotion programs directed to the most vulnerable groups among FSWs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aracely López-Monteon
- LADISER Inmunología y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Angel Ramos-Ligonio
- LADISER Inmunología y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Enrique Méndez-Bolaina
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Mario R B Guapillo-Vargas
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico.
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Nowotny KM, Cepeda A, Perdue T, Negi N, Valdez A. Risk Environments and Substance Use Among Mexican Female Sex Work on the U.S.-Mexico Border. JOURNAL OF DRUG ISSUES 2017; 47:528-542. [PMID: 38529041 PMCID: PMC10963065 DOI: 10.1177/0022042616678609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
We use a risk environment framework to qualitatively examine pathways into substance use and abuse among Mexican female sex workers on the U.S.-Mexico border. Life history interviews and ethnographic observations were conducted with female sex workers to uncover how the border context shapes patterns of substance use. The findings illustrate that, for many women, initiation into sex work is contextualized within immigration, the global economy, and demands and desire for financial autonomy. Paradoxically, many find autonomy within sex work as they increase their ability to support their families and themselves. As women become more entrenched in sex work, however, they are put on a path toward substance abuse beginning with alcohol then cocaine and heroin. This identification of specific substance use pathways and trajectories has important implications for the development of prevention and intervention programs that can help curtail problematic drug use that can lead to negative health consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alice Cepeda
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Tasha Perdue
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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