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Worke MD, Demelash H, Meseret L, Bezie M, Abebe F. Factors associated with sexual violence among waitresses working in Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia: a mixed-method study. BMC Womens Health 2022; 22:209. [PMID: 35668442 PMCID: PMC9172177 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-022-01806-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background When a worker is abused, threatened, or assaulted while at work, it poses an explicit or implicit threat to his/her safety, well-being, or health. However, the magnitude and understanding of the problem and its associated factors have received little attention in low and middle-income countries, including Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed to ascertain the magnitude, perceptions, and associated factors of workplace sexual violence among waitresses in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Methods Parallel sampling was used in a facility-based convergent mixed-methods study. A multistage sampling technique was used to select study participants. Four hundred six waitresses provided quantitative information. To collect data, a pretested structured interview administered questionnaire was used. Qualitative data from ten in-depth interviews and six focus group discussions were also collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. The data were cleaned before being entered into Epidata version 7 and exported to STATA version 15 for analysis. Using odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval and a P value of less than 0.05, binary logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors. Thematic analysis was performed using ATLAS ti version 8.4.25 after the recorded audios were transcribed. Results The overall prevalence of workplace sexual violence was 45.9% (95% CI 41, 50.8). Waitresses who had heard about sexual violence and workplace sexual violence, had witnessed family violence as a child, had a family who valued their honor over their children’s safety and health, and lacked employment opportunities were more likely to experience workplace sexual violence. Waitresses who worked in emotionally supportive work environments and were educated were less likely to experience workplace sexual violence. Conclusions Many of the waitresses in this study had experienced workplace sexual violence. Its awareness, witnessing family violence as a child, growing up in a family that prioritized their honor over their children’s safety and health, and lack of employment opportunities exacerbated it. In contrast, emotionally supportive work environments and education have protected them. This implies that organizations, both governmental and non-governmental, civic organizations, and other responsible bodies must pay attention to the identified factors. Additionally, Ethiopian hospitality workplaces should develop policies to protect women. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12905-022-01806-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mulugeta Dile Worke
- Department of Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
| | - Habtamu Demelash
- Department of Social and Public Health, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia
| | - Lealem Meseret
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia
| | - Minale Bezie
- Department of Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia
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Oy S, Chhoun P, Tuot S, Brody C, Gorbach PM, Yi S. Gender-based violence, psychological distress, sexual behaviours and binge drinking among female entertainment workers in Cambodia: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e054139. [PMID: 35473722 PMCID: PMC9045091 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship between gender-based violence, HIV risks, psychological distress and binge drinking among female entertainment workers (FEWs) in Cambodia. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Phnom Penh and three other provinces in Cambodia. PARTICIPANTS We recruited 600 FEWs from entertainment venues using a stratified random sampling method. Participants were eligible if they were at least 18 years old, working in the selected entertainment venues and self-identified as a FEW. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE Binge drinking was defined as drinking more than five units of alcoholic drinks in 24 hours on at least one occasion in the past 3 months. RESULTS The prevalence of binge drinking was 76.7%. Adjusted odds of binge drinking were significantly higher among FEWs who earned >US$250 per month than those who earned ≤US$120 per month (adjusted OR (AOR) 2.96, 95% CI: 1.40 to 6.24), had been forced to drink more than once per month in the past 3 months than those who had never been forced to drink (AOR 5.66, 95% CI: 2.19 to 14.65), worked at karaoke bars than those working at a restaurants/café (AOR 1.85, 95% CI: 1.19 to 2.88) and experienced emotional abuse in the past 6 months than those who did not experience it (AOR 2.71, 95% CI: 1.22 to 6.02). The odds of binge drinking were significantly higher among FEWs with lower psychological distress than those with higher psychological distress (AOR 1.65, 95% CI: 1.09 to 2.49). CONCLUSIONS This study highlights a high prevalence of binge drinking among FEWs and its associations with working environments, conditions and contexts. Our findings suggest that individual-based behavioural intervention may not effectively reduce binge drinking among FEWs. Structural and occupational health policy interventions may be needed to change the working environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreymom Oy
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore
- Department of Epidemiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Pheak Chhoun
- KHANA Center for Population Health Research, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Sovannary Tuot
- KHANA Center for Population Health Research, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Carinne Brody
- Public Health Program, Touro University California, Vallejo, CA, USA
| | - Pamina M Gorbach
- Department of Epidemiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Siyan Yi
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore
- KHANA Center for Population Health Research, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
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Brody C, Chhoun P, Tuot S, Fehrenbacher AE, Moran A, Swendeman D, Yi S. A Mobile Intervention to Link Young Female Entertainment Workers in Cambodia to Health and Gender-Based Violence Services: Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res 2022. [PMID: 34982716 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-154027/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Female entertainment workers (FEWs) in Cambodia experience a greater prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), psychological distress, substance abuse, and gender-based violence (GBV) than the general female population. Reaching FEWs with health education and linking them to services has been difficult because of their hidden and stigmatized status. OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the efficacy of the Mobile Link intervention in improving FEWs' health by engaging and connecting them to existing HIV, sexual and reproductive health, and GBV services. METHODS A randomized controlled trial was conducted between March 2018 and June 2019 in the capital city and 3 other provinces in Cambodia. FEWs in the intervention arm received automated twice-weekly Short Message Service messages and voice messages with health information and direct links to outreach workers. The control group received the existing standard care, including free HIV and STI counseling and testing and a toll-free helpline staffed by trained counselors. We used a stratified random sampling method to select participants from 5 study sites in the 4 selected provinces. Initially, we randomly selected 600 participants from a list of 4000 FEWs by age group (18-24 and 25-30 years) and study site using a random number generator and enrolled them in person. The primary outcome measures included self-reported HIV and STI testing, condom use, and contraceptive use assessed through a face-to-face structured interview. We also measured secondary outcomes, including contact with outreach workers, escorted referral service use, forced drinking, and GBV experiences. Intervention effects were modeled using repeated measures, multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression. RESULTS A total of 1118 participants were recruited and enrolled in the study. We included 218 FEWs in the intervention arm and 170 FEWs in the control arm in the per protocol analyses after removing 730 dropouts. Evidence of positive intervention effects was detected for the following secondary outcomes: contacting an outreach worker (at 30 weeks: adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 3.29, 95% CI 1.28-8.47), receiving an escorted referral (at 30 weeks: AOR 2.86, 95% CI 1.09-7.52; at 60 weeks: AOR 8.15, 95% CI 1.65-40.25), and never being forced to drink at work (at 60 weeks: AOR 3.95, 95% CI 1.62-9.60). Over time, no significant differences between intervention and control groups were observed for any primary outcomes in the fully adjusted models. CONCLUSIONS The Mobile Link intervention effectively connected FEWs with outreach workers and escorted referrals but did not show an effect on primary outcomes. Reduced forced drinking at work was also significantly more extensive in the intervention group than in the control group. Longer-term messaging may increase access to services and impact FEWs' health outcomes in the future. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03117842; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03117842. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) RR2-10.1186/s13063-018-2614-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carinne Brody
- Public Health Program, Touro University California, Vallejo, CA, United States
| | - Pheak Chhoun
- KHANA Center for Population Health Research, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Sovannary Tuot
- KHANA Center for Population Health Research, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Anne E Fehrenbacher
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Alexander Moran
- Department of Epidemiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Dallas Swendeman
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Siyan Yi
- Public Health Program, Touro University California, Vallejo, CA, United States
- KHANA Center for Population Health Research, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
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Brody C, Chhoun P, Tuot S, Fehrenbacher AE, Moran A, Swendeman D, Yi S. A Mobile Intervention to Link Young Female Entertainment Workers in Cambodia to Health and Gender-Based Violence Services: Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res 2022; 24:e27696. [PMID: 34982716 PMCID: PMC8767471 DOI: 10.2196/27696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Female entertainment workers (FEWs) in Cambodia experience a greater prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), psychological distress, substance abuse, and gender-based violence (GBV) than the general female population. Reaching FEWs with health education and linking them to services has been difficult because of their hidden and stigmatized status. Objective This study evaluated the efficacy of the Mobile Link intervention in improving FEWs’ health by engaging and connecting them to existing HIV, sexual and reproductive health, and GBV services. Methods A randomized controlled trial was conducted between March 2018 and June 2019 in the capital city and 3 other provinces in Cambodia. FEWs in the intervention arm received automated twice-weekly Short Message Service messages and voice messages with health information and direct links to outreach workers. The control group received the existing standard care, including free HIV and STI counseling and testing and a toll-free helpline staffed by trained counselors. We used a stratified random sampling method to select participants from 5 study sites in the 4 selected provinces. Initially, we randomly selected 600 participants from a list of 4000 FEWs by age group (18-24 and 25-30 years) and study site using a random number generator and enrolled them in person. The primary outcome measures included self-reported HIV and STI testing, condom use, and contraceptive use assessed through a face-to-face structured interview. We also measured secondary outcomes, including contact with outreach workers, escorted referral service use, forced drinking, and GBV experiences. Intervention effects were modeled using repeated measures, multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression. Results A total of 1118 participants were recruited and enrolled in the study. We included 218 FEWs in the intervention arm and 170 FEWs in the control arm in the per protocol analyses after removing 730 dropouts. Evidence of positive intervention effects was detected for the following secondary outcomes: contacting an outreach worker (at 30 weeks: adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 3.29, 95% CI 1.28-8.47), receiving an escorted referral (at 30 weeks: AOR 2.86, 95% CI 1.09-7.52; at 60 weeks: AOR 8.15, 95% CI 1.65-40.25), and never being forced to drink at work (at 60 weeks: AOR 3.95, 95% CI 1.62-9.60). Over time, no significant differences between intervention and control groups were observed for any primary outcomes in the fully adjusted models. Conclusions The Mobile Link intervention effectively connected FEWs with outreach workers and escorted referrals but did not show an effect on primary outcomes. Reduced forced drinking at work was also significantly more extensive in the intervention group than in the control group. Longer-term messaging may increase access to services and impact FEWs’ health outcomes in the future. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03117842; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03117842 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-10.1186/s13063-018-2614-7
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Affiliation(s)
- Carinne Brody
- Public Health Program, Touro University California, Vallejo, CA, United States
| | - Pheak Chhoun
- KHANA Center for Population Health Research, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Sovannary Tuot
- KHANA Center for Population Health Research, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.,Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Anne E Fehrenbacher
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Alexander Moran
- Department of Epidemiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Dallas Swendeman
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Siyan Yi
- Public Health Program, Touro University California, Vallejo, CA, United States.,KHANA Center for Population Health Research, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.,Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
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Brody C, Reno R, Chhoun P, Ith S, Tep S, Tuot S, Yi S. Developing a WhatsApp hotline for female entertainment workers in Cambodia: a qualitative study. Mhealth 2022; 8:5. [PMID: 35178436 PMCID: PMC8800199 DOI: 10.21037/mhealth-21-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Female entertainment workers (FEWs) in Cambodia experience high levels of stress due to economic hardship, exposure to violence, and harassment by law enforcement due to their employment. This study aims to gather qualitative data on stressors, coping strategies, and preferences for chatline functions to inform the development of a WhatsApp hotline (chatline) for FEWs in Cambodia. METHODS This qualitative study includes data from 5 focus groups and 10 in-depth interviews (IDIs), at which point data collectors felt we approached saturation. Participants were asked to respond to open-ended questions, a comic strip showing how the hotline might work and an audio recording of a hypothetical hotline conversation. Primary structural coding was used to identify the preferred functions and type of support participants want to receive from hotline staff. As more secondary themes arose during codebook development, an inductive thematic analytical approach was selected to categorize these data. RESULTS Participants identified several stressors associated with female entertainment work, including concerns about physical and mental health, fear related to experiences with the police or threat of arrest, and exposure to violence. Passive/avoidance and active coping strategies were also identified. Participants preferred a 24 h chatline that provides emotional support from a kind and comforting female staff person. The types of support participants were looking for were advice about personal problems, encouragement to achieve their goals and address depression, and immediate help for violence. Most participants felt that the hotline could bring them a sense of relief and safety and improve their mood. Some stated that the hotline alone would not alleviate the stressors they were exposed to, particularly related to violence and called for more transformational change. CONCLUSIONS This study offers textured evidence to inform the WhatsApp hotline development and staff training tailored to meet the needs of this specific population. Linking this hotline with crisis response, legal support, and longer-term in-depth counseling and using information gathered from this project to inform more extensive structural and policy-level changes should also be part a foundational part of this project.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carinne Brody
- Public Health Program, Center for Global Health Research, Touro University California, Vallejo, CA, USA
| | | | - Pheak Chhoun
- KHANA, Center for Population Health Research, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Sopherean Ith
- KHANA, Center for Population Health Research, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Sovanvorleak Tep
- KHANA, Center for Population Health Research, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Sovannary Tuot
- KHANA, Center for Population Health Research, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Siyan Yi
- Public Health Program, Center for Global Health Research, Touro University California, Vallejo, CA, USA
- KHANA, Center for Population Health Research, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
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Saing CH, Prem K, Uk P, Chann N, Chhoun P, Mun P, Tuot S, Yi S. Prevalence and social determinants of psychological distress among people who use drugs in Cambodia. Int J Ment Health Syst 2020; 14:77. [PMID: 33292352 PMCID: PMC7640420 DOI: 10.1186/s13033-020-00411-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background People who use drugs are at a disproportionately higher risk of mental disorders due to prolonged exposure to psychosocial challenges. However, studies on mental health among people who use drugs in resource-constrained countries are scarce. This study sheds light on the prevalence and correlates of psychological distress among people who use drugs in Cambodia. Methods We conducted this cross-sectional study in the capital city and 11 provinces in 2017. The Respondent Driven Sampling method was adapted to recruit 1677 people who used drugs for face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. Psychological distress was measured using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). A total score of GHQ-12 > 2 indicated high psychological distress. We performed a multiple logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with psychological distress. Results We included 1598 participants in the analyses, with a mean age of 28.6 years (SD = 7.8). Of the total, 42% had high psychological distress – 50% in women and 37% in men. The adjusted odds of having high psychological distress were significantly higher among participants who were 25–34 years old and 35 years and above, had been to a drug rehabilitation center, had been insulted by family members, and had been sexually harassed/abused by someone when they were growing up. The odds of having high psychological distress were significantly lower among participants who were male, lived in their own dwelling, reported injecting as the mode of the first drug use, and had someone taking care of them when they got sick. Conclusions This study documents a high prevalence of psychological distress among people who use drugs in Cambodia. Intervention programs that attempt to address mental health problems among people who use drugs in resource-limited settings should be gender- and age-sensitive and target more marginalized subpopulations. Mental health services can be integrated into HIV and harm-reduction programs for people who use drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chan Hang Saing
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, 12 Science Drive 2, #10-01, Singapore, 117549, Singapore
| | - Kiesha Prem
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, 12 Science Drive 2, #10-01, Singapore, 117549, Singapore.,Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Ponha Uk
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, 12 Science Drive 2, #10-01, Singapore, 117549, Singapore
| | - Navy Chann
- National Center for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology and STD, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Pheak Chhoun
- KHANA Center for Population Health Research, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Phalkun Mun
- National Center for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology and STD, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Sovannary Tuot
- KHANA Center for Population Health Research, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Siyan Yi
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, 12 Science Drive 2, #10-01, Singapore, 117549, Singapore. .,KHANA Center for Population Health Research, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. .,Center for Global Health Research, Touro University California, Vallejo, CA, USA. .,School of Public Health, National Institute of Public Health, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
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