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Puffer H, Hodson G, Prusaczyk E. Attitudes Toward Cisgender Women's Participation in Sex Work: Opportunity for Agency or Harmful Exchange? ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2024; 53:1169-1185. [PMID: 38285296 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-023-02797-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Despite the stigmatization of sex work in society, little empirical research has examined attitudes toward sex work, especially its modern incarnations (e.g., sugar relationships, webcamming). Here, a sample of 298 US residents (Mage = 40.06 years; 59.1% male, 40.9% female) was recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk. Various theoretical predictors (e.g., right-wing authoritarianism [RWA]), sociosexuality) were set to predict the degree to which four sex work domains (prostitution, pornography, sugar relationships, webcamming) provide cisgender women agency (beneficial) or harm them (detrimental). We found that the domains of sex work were organized hierarchically, as theorized by the so-called "whorearchy," whereby the more "unfavorable" domains (e.g., prostitution) fall at the bottom, and the more "favorable" ones (e.g., webcamming) sit at the top. Additionally, multiple regression analyses revealed that RWA (negatively) and sociosexuality (positively) were the strongest predictors of sex work agency across various domains. In predicting harm, RWA, feminism, religiosity, and age were unique positive predictors, whereas sociosexuality and male (vs. female) self-identified sex were unique negative predictors, across the four domains of sex work. Moreover, individual differences (e.g., RWA) were often significantly stronger predictors of agency or harm among female than male participants. The results suggest that although sex work domains vary in agency and harm ratings, individual differences (most notably, RWA and sociosexuality) are important predictors across domains, especially for cisgender women. Given the growing prevalence of such online forms of sex work, along with growing evidence of sugar relationships, it will become increasingly important to track reactions as these forms of sex work evolve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Puffer
- Department of Psychology, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada.
| | - Gordon Hodson
- Department of Psychology, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Elvira Prusaczyk
- Department of Psychology, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, NS, Canada
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2
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Logie CH, Okumu M, Admassu Z, MacKenzie F, Tailor L, Kortenaar JL, Perez-Brumer A, Ahmed R, Batte S, Hakiza R, Kibuuka Musoke D, Katisi B, Nakitende A, Juster RP, Marin MF, Kyambadde P. Exploring ecosocial contexts of alcohol use and misuse during the COVID-19 pandemic among urban refugee youth in Kampala, Uganda: Multi-method findings. J Migr Health 2024; 9:100215. [PMID: 38375158 PMCID: PMC10875238 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmh.2024.100215] [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: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Urban refugees may be disproportionately affected by socio-environmental stressors that shape alcohol use, and this may have been exacerbated by additional stressors in the COVID-19 pandemic. This multi-method study aimed to understand experiences of, and contextual factors associated with, alcohol use during the pandemic among urban refugee youth in Kampala, Uganda. We conducted a cross-sectional survey (n = 335), in-depth individual interviews (IDI) (n = 24), and focus groups (n = 4) with urban refugee youth in Kampala. We also conducted key informant interviews (n = 15) with a range of stakeholders in Kampala. We conducted multivariable logistic regression analyses with survey data to examine socio-demographic and ecosocial (structural, community, interpersonal) factors associated with ever using alcohol and alcohol misuse. We applied thematic analyses across qualitative data to explore lived experiences, and perceived impacts, of alcohol use. Among survey participants (n = 335, mean age= 20.8, standard deviation: 3.01), half of men and one-fifth of women reported ever using alcohol. Among those reporting any alcohol use, half (n = 66, 51.2 %) can be classified as alcohol misuse. In multivariable analyses, older age, gender (men vs. women), higher education, and perceived increased pandemic community violence against women and children were associated with significantly higher likelihood of ever using alcohol. In multivariable analyses, very low food security, relationship status, transactional sex, and lower social support were associated with increased likelihood of alcohol misuse. Qualitative findings revealed: (1) alcohol use as a coping mechanism for stressors (e.g., financial insecurity, refugee-related stigma); and (2) perceived impacts of alcohol use on refugee youth health (e.g., physical, mental). Together findings provide insight into multi-level contexts that shape vulnerability to alcohol mis/use among urban refugee youth in Kampala and signal the need for gender-tailored strategies to reduce socio-environmental stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen H. Logie
- Factor Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment, and Health, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Centre for Gender & Sexual Health Equity, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Moses Okumu
- School of Social Work, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- School of Social Sciences, Uganda Christian University, Mukono, Uganda
| | - Zerihun Admassu
- Factor Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Frannie MacKenzie
- Factor Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lauren Tailor
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jean-Luc Kortenaar
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Amaya Perez-Brumer
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Rushdia Ahmed
- Factor Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Shamilah Batte
- Organization for Gender Empowerment and Rights Advocacy- OGERA Uganda, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Robert Hakiza
- Young African Refugees for Integral Development (YARID), Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Brenda Katisi
- Young African Refugees for Integral Development (YARID), Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Robert-Paul Juster
- Department of Psychiatry & Addiction, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Marie-France Marin
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Peter Kyambadde
- Most At Risk Population Initiative Clinic, Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
- National AIDS Control Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
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3
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Rains A, Sibley AL, Levander XA, Walters SM, Nolte K, Colston DC, Piscalko HM, Go VF, Friedmann PD, Seal DW. "I would do anything but that": Attitudes towards sex work among rural people who use drugs. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2023; 122:104237. [PMID: 37865053 PMCID: PMC10842447 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.104237] [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] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stigma towards people who use drugs and those who engage in sex work is well-documented, leading to consequences such as reduced access to health services and support, especially in rural milieus. Stigma reduction has been recognized as a priority in the opioid overdose crisis, but little attention has been paid to within-group attitudes and beliefs. This study aimed to explore how people who use drugs in rural counties across the United States appraise sex work by themselves or other community members. METHODS Qualitative interview data came from the Rural Opioid Initiative (ROI), a project coordinated by research teams across 65 rural counties in 10 states. Interviews were individual and conducted from 2018 to 2020. All participants reported past 30-day opioid use and/or any injection drug use. A working group coded the data, then used an iterative inductive-deductive approach to organize data into themes of stigma among people who use drugs, focusing on stigma towards sex work. RESULTS Across sites, 355 interviews were conducted. Mean participant age was 36, 55 % of participants were male, and 93 % were white. Participants expressed negative attitudes towards sex work as a function of its criminal-legal repercussions or framed sex work as morally transgressive. Many appraisals were gendered, with the behavior conveyed as being "easier" for women who were often described as "whores," with more neutral terms used to describe men. Some viewed sex work as an implicit "exchange" for drugs. Several participants noted a lack of agency as a feature leading to involvement in sex work, with partner power dynamics influencing an individual's behavior. Finally, a few participants acknowledged the circumstances under which they would newly engage in sex work. CONCLUSION We identified several patterns by which people who use drugs evaluate community members who sell sex. These included gendered and morally-charged forms of stigma, which may represent barriers to community acceptance and support among this subgroup.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Rains
- University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
| | - Adams L Sibley
- Department of Health Behavior, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, 170 Rosenau Hall CB #7400, 135 Dauer Dr., Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Ximena A Levander
- Division of General Internal Medicine & Geriatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Suzan M Walters
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Population Health, NYU Langone Health, 180 Madison, New York, NY 10018, USA
| | - Kerry Nolte
- Department of Nursing, College of Health and Human Services, University of New Hampshire, Hewitt Hall, 4 Library Way, Durham, NH 03824, USA
| | - David C Colston
- Department of Health Behavior, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, 170 Rosenau Hall CB #7400, 135 Dauer Dr., Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Hannah M Piscalko
- Division of Epidemiology, The Ohio State University College of Public Health, Cunz Hall 1841 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Vivian F Go
- Department of Health Behavior, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, 170 Rosenau Hall CB #7400, 135 Dauer Dr., Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Peter D Friedmann
- Baystate Health and UMass Chan Medical School-Baystate, Office of Research, 3601 Main Street, 3rd Floor, Springfield, MA 01199, USA
| | - David W Seal
- Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2200, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
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Brooks SK, Patel SS, Greenberg N. Struggling, Forgotten, and Under Pressure: A Scoping Review of Experiences of Sex Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2023; 52:1969-2010. [PMID: 37311934 PMCID: PMC10263380 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-023-02633-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly affected physical, mental, and economic well-being across the globe and has disproportionately affected certain vulnerable groups. This paper provides a scoping review of literature on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sex workers, published between December 2019 and December 2022. Six databases were systematically searched, identifying 1009 citations; 63 studies were included in the review. Thematic analysis revealed eight main themes: financial issues; exposure to harm; alternate ways of working; COVID-19 knowledge, protective behaviors, fear, and risk; well-being, mental health, and coping; access to support; access to health care; and the impact of COVID-19 on research with sex workers. COVID-associated restrictions led to reduced work and income, leaving many sex workers struggling to cover basic needs; additionally, government protections excluded those working in the informal economy. Fearing the loss of their already reduced number of clients, many felt compelled to compromise both prices and protective measures. Although some engaged in online sex work, this raised concerns about visibility and was impossible for those without technological access or skills. Many feared COVID-19, but felt pressure to continue working, often with clients who refused to wear masks or share exposure history. Other negative impacts on well-being related to the pandemic included reduced access to financial support or health care. Marginalized populations (and especially those in professions which require close contact like sex workers) need further support and capacity-building within the community to recover from the impact of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha K Brooks
- Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, Weston Education Centre, London, SE5 9RJ, UK.
| | - Sonny S Patel
- Transcultural Conflict and Violence Initiative, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Neil Greenberg
- Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, Weston Education Centre, London, SE5 9RJ, UK
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Joshi S, Namuddu C, Kasujja FX, Mirembe M, Homsy J, Seeley J, King R. PrEP uptake and persistence amongst HIV-negative women who exchange sex for money or commodities in Kampala, Uganda: A qualitative inquiry assessing the influence of pregnancy. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0000434. [PMID: 37368866 PMCID: PMC10298783 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Pregnant young women who exchange sex for money or commodities are at elevated biological and social risk for HIV acquisition. PrEP serves as an effective means of HIV prevention, including during pregnancy. This study aimed to explore attitudes, experiences and challenges with PrEP to understand what motivates or limits PrEP uptake and adherence specifically during pregnancy among this population of young women. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 participants, recruited from the Prevention on PrEP (POPPi) study in the Good Health for Women Project clinic in Kampala, Uganda. POPPi's inclusion criteria comprised of HIV-uninfected women, aged 15-24, who exchange sex for money or commodities. Interviews focused on experience with PrEP and pregnancy. Data were analyzed utilizing a framework analysis approach. Key themes were comprised of participant barriers to and facilitators of PrEP uptake and adherence. Reasons for PrEP initiation included desire for autonomy and agency, mistrust of partners, and social support. Participants expressed challenges with initiating or sustaining their use of PrEP, including pregnancy, PrEP access and perceived or felt stigma. During pregnancy, participants' primary motivators for altering PrEP use were either understanding of PrEP safety for their baby or changes in perceptions of their HIV risk. Many of these factors were similar across participants who had experience with pregnancy and those who did not. This study highlights the importance of addressing barriers to and facilitators of PrEP uptake and persistence, especially during pregnancy where risk is elevated, with a multi-level approach. Community-oriented education, stigma reduction activities alongside access to PrEP, can serve as means for adherence. The development of robust PrEP support services and guidelines regarding PrEP use during pregnancy among high-risk women, and strategies for their implementation, are of utmost importance for the control of HIV in key populations and the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivali Joshi
- Institute for Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, (UCSF), San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Catherine Namuddu
- Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (MRC/UVRI & LSHTM) Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Francis Xavier Kasujja
- Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (MRC/UVRI & LSHTM) Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Miriam Mirembe
- Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (MRC/UVRI & LSHTM) Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Jaco Homsy
- Institute for Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, (UCSF), San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Janet Seeley
- Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (MRC/UVRI & LSHTM) Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel King
- Institute for Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, (UCSF), San Francisco, California, United States of America
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6
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Sadzaglishvili S, Gotsiridze T, Lekishvili K, Flores R, Hereth J, Bouris A. "How can you kiss and touch this child and show affection towards her? What kind of woman are you?": Provider perspectives on stigma towards native and ethnic minority street-connected youth in the Republic of Georgia. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0286710. [PMID: 37267230 PMCID: PMC10237414 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The Republic of Georgia has experienced a rapid growth in the number of youth working and/or living on the street (YWLS). Although research indicates that YWLS are highly stigmatized, few studies have examined perceptions of stigma among Georgian social service providers who serve YWLS. We conducted in-person in-depth interviews with key informants recruited from governmental institutions and social service organizations in Tbilisi and Rustavi, two large urban areas. A semi-structured interview guide was used to explore provider perspectives on the social contexts surrounding the delivery of services to YWLS. Trained coders conducted a thematic analysis of the data in Dedoose. Twenty-two providers (68% female; 32% male) were interviewed, representing diverse professional roles. Providers perceived that YWLS are subjected to strong public stigma and social exclusion at multiple social-ecological levels, with Roma and Kurdish-Azeri youth experiencing the strongest levels of social hostility, discrimination, and exclusion. Providers perceive that these dynamics prevent YWLS from developing trusting relationships with social service, health and educational institutions. Furthermore, we find that providers report encounters with courtesy stigma, i.e., stigma directed towards the people who serve or are associated with a stigmatized group, when working with YWLS, especially those from ethnic minority groups, which they characterize as a stressor. At the same time, we find that some providers reported negative stereotypes about ethnic minority YWLS. While campaigns have targeted public awareness on the plight of YWLS, study findings suggest that additional efforts are needed to address stigma directed towards YWLS, with a specific need to address stigma directed towards ethnic minority young people who work and/or live on the street.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Rey Flores
- Chicago Center for HIV Elimination, University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Jane Hereth
- University of Wisconsin Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Alida Bouris
- Chicago Center for HIV Elimination, University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy and Practice, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
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7
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Screening of Schistosomiasis, Strongyloidiasis and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Nigerian Female Sex Workers Living in Rome. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12020274. [PMID: 36839546 PMCID: PMC9961054 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Female Sex Workers (FSWs) are at high risk for acquisition and transmission of sexually transmission infections (STIs). Although several studies investigated the diffusion of STIs in this population, none of them investigated the occurrence of helminth infections in FSW coming from endemic regions. This study aims to assess the prevalence of STIs and helminth infections in a cohort of FSWs. METHOD authors conducted a prevalent, observational, and descriptive study on 97 Nigerian FSWs aged 17 to 52 years from January to December 2020. RESULTS a total of 97 FSWs were recruited. Of these, only 82 had completed screening for hepatitis B, C, syphilis, and HIV, while all 97 were screened for schistosomiasis and strongyloidiasis. The prevalence of STIs among FSWs in Rome was lower than in other European countries. The overall prevalence of HIV and HBsAg were 1.2%, (1/82) and 2.4% (2/82), respectively, while no case of hepatitis C and syphilis was found. Regarding parasitological screening, the overall prevalence of schistosoma species was 4.1% (4/97) while 5.15% (5/97) were positive for strongyloidiasis. CONCLUSIONS our study shows a low prevalence of STIs in Nigerian FSWs except for Hepatitis B and a higher prevalence of schistosomiasis and strongyloidiasis. The permanent monitoring of STI and parasitic infections in sex workers coming from Africa is strongly warranted, especially for hepatitis B, schistosomiasis and strongyloidiasis, to allow a timely diagnosis and treatment, and to plan preventive strategies.
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8
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Lodi S, Rossi SL, Bendiks S, Gnatienko N, Lloyd-Travaglini C, Vetrova M, Toussova O, Bushara N, Blokhina E, Krupitsky E, Ekstrand ML, Lioznov D, Samet JH, Lunze K. Correlates of Intersectional HIV and Substance Use Stigma Affecting People with HIV and Substance Use in St. Petersburg, Russia. AIDS Behav 2023; 27:462-472. [PMID: 35916947 PMCID: PMC9892353 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-022-03781-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
People with HIV (PWH) who inject drugs often experience coexisting HIV- and substance use-related stigma manifestations. We assessed correlates of HIV stigma (Berger HIV stigma scale), substance use stigma (Substance Abuse Self-stigma scale) and intersectional HIV and substance use stigma in a cohort of PWH with a lifetime history of drug use in St. Petersburg, Russia. Intersectional stigma was defined as having a score greater than the median for both forms of stigma. Of the 208 participants, 56 (27%) had intersectional stigma. Depressive symptoms and alcohol dependence were significantly associated with a higher HIV and substance stigma score, but not with intersectional stigma. Individual and community interventions to reduce the impact of HIV stigma and substance use stigma affecting PWH who inject drugs should consider assessing and addressing mental health and unhealthy substance use. Further work with longitudinal data is needed to understand mechanisms leading to intersectional stigma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Lodi
- Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
| | - Sarah L Rossi
- Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sally Bendiks
- Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Marina Vetrova
- Laboratory of Clinical Psychopharmacology of Addictions, First Pavlov State Medical University of Saint Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Olga Toussova
- Laboratory of Clinical Psychopharmacology of Addictions, First Pavlov State Medical University of Saint Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Natalia Bushara
- Laboratory of Clinical Psychopharmacology of Addictions, First Pavlov State Medical University of Saint Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Elena Blokhina
- Laboratory of Clinical Psychopharmacology of Addictions, First Pavlov State Medical University of Saint Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Evgeny Krupitsky
- Laboratory of Clinical Psychopharmacology of Addictions, First Pavlov State Medical University of Saint Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Russia
- Department of Addiction, Bekhterev National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Neurology, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Maria L Ekstrand
- Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- St. John's Research Institute, St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore, India
| | - Dmitry Lioznov
- Laboratory of Clinical Psychopharmacology of Addictions, First Pavlov State Medical University of Saint Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Jeffrey H Samet
- Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Karsten Lunze
- Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
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9
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Pandey AK, Seelman K. History of Sex Work Is Associated with Increased Risk of Adverse Mental Health and Substance Use Outcomes in Transgender Adults. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15908. [PMID: 36497981 PMCID: PMC9735961 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Understanding factors influencing mental health and substance use in transgender and gender diverse people is critical to reducing disparities in this population. We sought to investigate whether a history of sex work was associated with increased prevalence of poor mental health, substance use, and a negative experience within drug and alcohol treatment facilities. We conducted a secondary analysis of the data of 25,204 transgender respondents of the 2015 United States Transgender Survey. We estimated multiple logistic regressions to assess the association between a history of sex work and adverse mental health and substance use outcomes. We then estimated mean prevalence of adverse outcomes by type of sex work. Finally, we performed chi-square analysis to explore differences in mistreatment at drug and alcohol treatment facilities. Respondents with a history of sex work were significantly more likely to have poorer psychological health, suicidality, and substance use after adjusting for covariates. Among those who visited drug and alcohol treatment facilities, those with a history of sex work were significantly more likely to report adverse experiences (26.34% vs. 11.63%). Our findings highlight the increased risk of adverse outcomes in transgender sex workers and emphasize the need for interventions targeting this subgroup of transgender people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajay Keshav Pandey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Kristie Seelman
- School of Social Work, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA
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10
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The Impact of Occupational Stigma on Gig Workers' Workplace Well-being. J Occup Environ Med 2022; 64:e527-e534. [DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000002604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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11
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Chandler CJ, Adams BJ, Eaton LA, Meunier É, Andrade E, Bukowski LA, Stall RD, Friedman MR. Intersectional Experienced Stigma and Psychosocial Syndemic Conditions in a Sample of Black Men Who Have Sex with Men Engaged in Sex Work (BMSM-SW) from Six US Cities. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2022; 59:920-930. [PMID: 35580257 PMCID: PMC9835797 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2022.2072799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) in the United States experience a disproportionate burden of violence, substance use, physical and mental health conditions relative to other racial groups. BMSM who engage in sex work (BMSM-SW) experience a high burden of psychosocial conditions, sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, and intersectional stigma. This analysis characterizes remuneration and client typologies for BMSM-SW, documents intersectional stigma experienced by BMSM-SW relative to other BMSM, and explores the impact of experienced intersectional stigma on the relationship between sex work engagement and psychosocial syndemic conditions (violence, polydrug use, and depression symptoms). Results show that a majority of BMSM-SW in the sample had female clients and that sex workers were more likely than other BMSM to hire another sex worker. BMSM-SW were more likely than other BMSM to report stigma attributed to race; sexuality; HIV status; socioeconomic status; and "other" attributes, and were more likely to report experiencing stigma across all settings assessed (schools; healthcare; employment; housing; police/courts; and in public/community). Intersectional stigma mediated the relationship between sex work engagement and psychosocial syndemic conditions, accounting for 49% (95% CI: 47.6-50.0%) of the relationship. Interventions for BMSM-SW should include resilience-building components to counteract the effects of intersectional stigma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian J. Chandler
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 2525 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN, USA 37203
- Center for LGBT Health Research, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 De Soto Street, Pittsburgh, PA, USA 15261
| | - Brian J. Adams
- Center for LGBT Health Research, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 De Soto Street, Pittsburgh, PA, USA 15261
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 De Soto Street, Pittsburgh, PA, USA 15261
| | - Lisa A. Eaton
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269
| | - Étienne Meunier
- Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032
| | - Elí Andrade
- Center for LGBT Health Research, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 De Soto Street, Pittsburgh, PA, USA 15261
- Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 De Soto Street, Pittsburgh, PA, USA 15261
| | - Leigh A. Bukowski
- Center for LGBT Health Research, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 De Soto Street, Pittsburgh, PA, USA 15261
- Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 De Soto Street, Pittsburgh, PA, USA 15261
| | - Ronald D. Stall
- Center for LGBT Health Research, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 De Soto Street, Pittsburgh, PA, USA 15261
| | - M. Reuel Friedman
- Center for LGBT Health Research, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 De Soto Street, Pittsburgh, PA, USA 15261
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 De Soto Street, Pittsburgh, PA, USA 15261
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The needs and preferences of Eastern Canadian sex workers in mitigating occupational health and safety risks through the use of Information and Communication Technologies: A qualitative study. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0269730. [PMID: 35675347 PMCID: PMC9176787 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex workers may use Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a means to mitigate occupational health and safety (OHS) risks by exchanging harm reduction techniques (e.g., screening) on blogs and social media. ICTs can also assist sex workers in creating online communities, where community members can act as each other’s safety check-ins, an additional harm reduction technique. In Canada, there is a paucity of research around ICT usage by sex workers for managing occupational health and safety. The objective of this study was to qualitatively examine the needs and preferences of Canadian sex workers when using ICTs in the delivery of strategies for occupational health and safety. Using a theoretical framework derived from a Social Ecological Model perspective, semi-structured interviews were conducted via phone, with a mixed gender sample (N = 22) of sex workers, between April and July 2020. OHS risks were found to be related to structural determinants, client behaviours, and lack of experience and knowledge when newly entering sex work. Participant accounts revealed a socially cohesive online community; however, sex workers reported difficulties in finding these communities, particularly when entering sex work. Such barriers to supportive communities were attributed to the criminalized, hidden nature of sex work that resulted in the fragmentation of harm reduction techniques across several online platforms, such as blogs, YouTube videos, closed electronic chat groups, and open online sex worker supportive communities. Moreover, these platforms and/or their content could potentially disappear without warning, either due to the platform provider seeking to evade possible prosecution, or because new legislation was introduced banning such content. Recommendations for further research include the co-design with sex workers of an innovative, secure, easily accessible, sex worker-only ICT OHS tool, utilizing a web hosting service located in a country where sex work has been either legalized or decriminalized.
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13
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Logie CH, Sokolovic N, Kazemi M, Smith S, Islam S, Lee M, Gormley R, Kaida A, de Pokomandy A, Loutfy M. Recent sex work and associations with psychosocial outcomes among women living with HIV: findings from a longitudinal Canadian cohort study. J Int AIDS Soc 2022; 25:e25874. [PMID: 35318817 PMCID: PMC8940985 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sex workers are disproportionately impacted by the HIV pandemic across global contexts, in part due to social and structural contexts of stigma and criminalization. Among women living with HIV, there is a dearth of longitudinal information regarding dynamics of sex work engagement and associated social and health outcomes. In order to better understand the social contexts and health needs of sex working women living with HIV, this study aimed to understand recent sex work prevalence and its longitudinal associations with stigma, psychosocial and clinical HIV outcomes among women living with HIV in Canada. METHODS We conducted a three-wave prospective cohort survey at 18-month intervals with women living with HIV aged 16 and older in three Canadian provinces between 2013 and 2018. We used generalized estimating equations to examine longitudinal associations between recent (past 6-month) sex work with three types of outcomes: psychosocial (recent violence, recent injection drug use, hazardous alcohol use, clinical depression and post-traumatic stress disorder), clinical HIV (CD4 count and viral load) and stigma (HIV-related stigma, racial discrimination and gender discrimination). Equations were adjusted for socio-demographic factors associated with sex work across all three waves: province, age, income, gender identity, sexual orientation, education level, ethnicity and housing security. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Of 1422 participants, 129 (9.1%) reported recent sex work during at least one wave (82 at baseline, 73 at first follow-up and 32 at second follow-up). In adjusted analyses, recent sex work was associated with psychosocial outcomes, including: past 3-month violence (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.47, 95% CI = 1.70, 3.60), past 6-month injection drug use (AOR = 3.49, 95% CI = 2.21-5.52), hazardous alcohol use (AOR = 2.00, 95% CI = 1.04-3.89) and depression (AOR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.06-2.15). In unadjusted analyses, sex work was also associated with clinical HIV outcomes and gender discrimination, but not racial discrimination/HIV-related stigma. CONCLUSIONS Among women living with HIV in Canada, sex work engagement is dynamic, and sex workers are more likely to report recent violence, recent injection drug use, problematic alcohol use and clinical depression. Violence prevention and support, harm reduction, mental health promotion and sex work-affirming programs could be employed to optimize health and rights for sex working women living with HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen H Logie
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada and United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Nina Sokolovic
- Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada and United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Mina Kazemi
- Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stephanie Smith
- Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shaz Islam
- Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Melanie Lee
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Rebecca Gormley
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.,BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Angela Kaida
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Alexandra de Pokomandy
- Department of Family Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Chronic Viral Illness Service, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mona Loutfy
- Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Ongeri L, Moshi V, Denckla CA, Bosire R, Singa B, Otieno P, Maingi C, Ouma L, Omolo D, Manduku V. Prevalence of Substance Use and Its Association with Sociodemographic and Behavioral Factors among Women Who Conduct Sex Work in Kenya. J Psychoactive Drugs 2022; 55:224-232. [PMID: 35311477 PMCID: PMC9869467 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2022.2053614] [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: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Female sex workers (FSWs) in sub-Saharan Africa are a marginalized group with an increased morbidity risk. Psychoactive substance use among this group is common and increases the risk of adverse health consequences. The type of substance used, extent, and nature of use varies with different settings and regions. We examine the use of specific psychoactive substances among FSWs residing in an urban informal settlement in Nairobi. This cross-sectional study was conducted between April and August 2017. Structured questionnaires were administered in face-to-face interviews. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were undertaken to examine prevalence, patterns, and factors associated with use of specific substances. Out of 301 FSWs, 98% reported current psychoactive substance use. The most used substance was alcohol with 95.6% of the study population reporting use in the past year. Of these, 151 (50.2%) met criteria for very high-risk drinkers. Reported current use was 61.5% for cannabis, 47.2% for khat, and 30.9% for tobacco. Factors independently associated with hazardous and harmful alcohol use included earning a higher monthly income (>USD50) and disclosure of sex work to close family and friends. There is an urgent need for preventive and curative interventions to address the high prevalence of substance use among FSW residing in high-risk urban informal settlements in Kenya.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linnet Ongeri
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Clinical Research, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Vincent Moshi
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Clinical Research, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Rose Bosire
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Clinical Research, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Benson Singa
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Clinical Research, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Phelgona Otieno
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Clinical Research, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Charity Maingi
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Clinical Research, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Linet Ouma
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Clinical Research, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Danvers Omolo
- United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, Juba, South Sudan
| | - Veronica Manduku
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Clinical Research, Nairobi, Kenya
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15
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Noor MN, Bryant J, de Wit J, Holt M. Resourcefulness of homeless young people who practise sex work in Pakistan: a qualitative study. Sex Health 2021; 18:378-384. [PMID: 34634229 DOI: 10.1071/sh21024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Background Many homeless young people in Pakistan use sex work as a way to generate income, particularly if they have few other options for work. Because it is highly stigmatised, little attention has been paid to the strategies homeless young people use to practise sex work, and what this suggests about their capacities and strengths. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 29 homeless young people (aged 16-25years) from Rawalpindi, Pakistan, including nine cisgender heterosexual men, six cisgender heterosexual women, seven cisgender gay men, and seven transgender heterosexual women. Results Participants sought memberships in street-based peer groups where financial gains were contingent on dancing and sex work. To practise their work successfully, participants learned novel skills and mobilised material resources available to them on the streets. Participants talked about how they acquired and benefitted from skills related to beautification, dancing, communication, and sexual services to achieve the necessary standards for entertainment and sex work. Access to material resources like makeup, clothes, rented rooms, mobile phones and condoms made dancing and sex work possible and safer for participants. Conclusions Participants' improvisation with limited resources on the streets has important implications for policy and programs. Showcasing the resourcefulness and capacities of young people encourages a different way of thinking about them. This potential could be utilised in productive ways if they were given the chance to receive mainstream and technical education, better health support and access to the formal job market.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Naveed Noor
- Centre for Social Research in Health, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Joanne Bryant
- Centre for Social Research in Health, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - John de Wit
- Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Martin Holt
- Centre for Social Research in Health, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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16
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Income generation and the patterning of substance use: A gender-based analysis. Drug Alcohol Depend 2021; 226:108862. [PMID: 34198138 PMCID: PMC8356895 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous research has demonstrated how income-generating activities among marginalized people who use drugs (PWUD)-including employment, income assistance, street-based activities, sex work, and illegal activities-can provide both benefit (e.g., additional income) and harm (e.g., violence, criminalization). However, little is known about gender differences in factors such as drug use patterns that are associated with income-generating activities among PWUD. METHODS Using data from prospective cohorts of HIV-positive and HIV-negative PWUD in Vancouver, Canada, we conducted exploratory gender-stratified analyses of associations between substance use patterns and income-generating activities, using generalized linear mixed-models. RESULTS Participants reported income sources as employment (23.4 %), income assistance (88.1 %), street-based activities (24.9 %), sex work (15.2 %), drug dealing (31.5 %), or other illegal activities (13.9 %). GLMM results showed gendered patterns of engagement in specific income-generating activities and some diverging patterns of substance use. For instance, men receiving income assistance were less likely to use opioids (Adjusted odds ratio(AOR) = 0.64; 95 % confidence interval(CI) = 0.50-0.82) and women engaged in sex work were more likely to use crack-cocaine (AOR = 2.74, 95 % CI = 2.22-3.37). However, results reflected primarily converging patterns of substance use between women and men across income-generating activities, particularly for drug dealing and other illegal activities. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that substance use patterns may be more closely associated with income generation context than gender. Given potential harms associated with some income generation activities, results highlight the need for further investigation of the social and structural context of income generation, its intersections with gender and substance use, and the expansion of low-threshold work opportunities.
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Ruegsegger LM, Stockton M, Go VF, Piscalko H, Davis D, Hoffman IF, Hosseinipour MC, Zalira E, Lungu T, Bula A, Lancaster KE. Stigma, Social Support, and Sexual Behavior Among Female Sex Workers at Risk for HIV in Malawi. AIDS EDUCATION AND PREVENTION : OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR AIDS EDUCATION 2021; 33:290-302. [PMID: 34370569 PMCID: PMC8408828 DOI: 10.1521/aeap.2021.33.4.290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Lack of social support and sex work stigma may hinder STI/HIV prevention for female sex workers (FSW). We explored the associations between sex work stigma and social support with sexual behaviors in Malawi. In 2017, 150 HIV-negative, venue-based FSW completed a behavioral survey containing sex work stigma items and social support. Linear binomial regression models were used to estimate prevalence differences of inconsistent condom use and substance use before sex by social support and stigma. A majority (93%) reported sex work-related internalized stigma. About 50% reported family or friend isolation. Social support was high (mean index: 86.53). Inconsistent condom use and substance use before sex had little to no association with stigma and social support. Malawian FSW largely internalize stigma and experience isolation from family and friends yet have high levels of social support. Large-scale evaluations should investigate the role of stigma and social support in STI/HIV prevention for FSW.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M. Ruegsegger
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Melissa Stockton
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Vivian F. Go
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Hannah Piscalko
- Division of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, 334 Cunz Hall, 1841 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Dylane Davis
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Irving F. Hoffman
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Mina C. Hosseinipour
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- University of North Carolina Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | | | - Thandie Lungu
- University of North Carolina Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Agatha Bula
- University of North Carolina Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Kathryn E. Lancaster
- Division of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, 334 Cunz Hall, 1841 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH, USA
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18
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Bernier T, Shah A, Ross LE, Logie CH, Seto E. The Use of Information and Communication Technologies by Sex Workers to Manage Occupational Health and Safety: Scoping Review. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e26085. [PMID: 34185001 PMCID: PMC8277340 DOI: 10.2196/26085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In many countries, sex work is criminalized, driving sex work underground and leaving sex workers vulnerable to a number of occupational health and safety risks, including violence, assault, and robbery. With the advent of widely accessible information and communication technologies (ICTs), sex workers have begun to use electronic occupational health and safety tools to mitigate these risks. OBJECTIVE This study aims to explore the use of ICTs by sex workers for managing occupational health and safety risks and strategies for reducing these risks. This paper aims to answer the following question: what is known about sex workers' use of ICTs in the delivery of occupational health and safety strategies? METHODS A literature review following the methodological framework for scoping reviews was conducted to analyze studies describing the use of ICTs by sex workers to mitigate occupational health and safety risks. Experimental, observational, and descriptive studies, as well as protocol papers, were included in this scoping review. RESULTS Of the 2477 articles initially identified, 41 (1.66%) met the inclusion criteria. Of these studies, 71% (29/41) were published between 2015 and 2019. In these studies, the internet was the predominant ICT (24/41, 58%), followed by text messaging (10/41, 24%) and assorted communication technologies associated with mobile phones without internet access (7/41, 17%; eg, voice mail). In 56% (23/41) of the studies, sex workers located in high-income countries created occupational health and safety strategies (eg, bad date lists) and shared them through the internet. In 24% (10/41) of the studies, mostly in low- and middle-income countries, organizations external to sex work developed and sent (through text messages) occupational health and safety strategies focused on HIV. In 20% (8/41) of the studies, external organizations collaborated with the sex worker community in the development of occupational health and safety strategies communicated through ICTs; through this collaboration, concerns other than HIV (eg, mental health) emerged. CONCLUSIONS Although there has been an increase in the number of studies on the use of ICTs by sex workers for managing occupational health and safety over the past 5 years, knowledge of how to optimally leverage ICTs for this purpose remains scarce. Recommendations for expanding the use of ICTs by sex workers for occupational health and safety include external organizations collaborating with sex workers in the design of ICT interventions to mitigate occupational health and safety risks; to examine whether ICTs used in low- and middle-income countries would have applications in high-income countries as a substitute to the internet for sharing occupational health and safety strategies; and to explore the creation of innovative, secure, web-based communities that use existing or alternative digital technologies that could be used by sex workers to manage their occupational health and safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thérèse Bernier
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Amika Shah
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lori E Ross
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Carmen H Logie
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Emily Seto
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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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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20
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McCann J, Crawford G, Hallett J. Sex Worker Health Outcomes in High-Income Countries of Varied Regulatory Environments: A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18083956. [PMID: 33918688 PMCID: PMC8070506 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18083956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
There is significant debate regarding the regulation of the sex industry, with a complex range of cultural, political and social factors influencing regulatory models which vary considerably between and within countries. This systematic review examined the available evidence on the relationship between different approaches to sex industry regulation in high-income countries, and associated effects on sex worker health status. Objectives included identification of sex worker health outcomes, including sexual health, substance use and experience of stigma and violence. A search was performed electronically in eight scholarly databases which yielded 95 articles which met the criteria for inclusion. Findings suggested that sex workers in legalised and decriminalized countries demonstrated greater health outcomes, including awareness of health conditions and risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica McCann
- Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia; (G.C.); (J.H.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Gemma Crawford
- Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia; (G.C.); (J.H.)
- Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health, Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
| | - Jonathan Hallett
- Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia; (G.C.); (J.H.)
- Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health, Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
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21
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Nelson EUE. Intersectional analysis of cannabis use, stigma and health among marginalized Nigerian women. SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH & ILLNESS 2021; 43:660-677. [PMID: 33720404 DOI: 10.1111/1467-9566.13244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis use by women has been under-researched, particularly use by marginalized women in developing societies. This article draws on qualitative research in Uyo, Nigeria, to explore how intersecting stigmas around social identity categories (e.g. gender, sex work) shapes cannabis use and contributes to health harms for marginalized women. Qualitative data were collected via in-depth interviews with street-involved female cannabis users, and transcribed, coded and analysed thematically. Initiation of cannabis use was influenced by social networks and sexual relationships. Heavy cannabis use enabled some women to perform alternative femininity thereby challenging the boundaries of appropriate gendered behaviour, while others were pressured by normative expectations to enact moderation according to traditional femininity. Recreational cannabis use overlapped with marginalized forms of use, including using heavily to cope with the mental health sequalae of gender-based discriminations and structural inequities. Cannabis use attracted heightened stigma, operating as part of intersecting stigmatizing identities that adversely impacted mental health and wellbeing. Cannabis stigma does not exist in isolation from other social identity categories that shape women's lives. There exists a need to combat stigma through interventions that seek to mediate changes in gender relations, improve living conditions and access to health-care services for marginalized women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ediomo-Ubong Ekpo Nelson
- Centre for Research and Information on Substance Abuse, Uyo, Nigeria
- International Blue Cross, Uyo, Nigeria
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22
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Job Attributes and Mental Health: A Comparative Study of Sex Work and Hairstyling. SOCIAL SCIENCES 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/socsci10020035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A growing literature advocates for using a labor perspective to study sex work. According to this approach, sex work involves many of the costs, benefits, and possibilities for exploitation that are common to many jobs. We add to the field with an examination of job attributes and mental health. Our analysis is comparative and uses data from a panel study of people in sex work and hairstyling. We examined job attributes that may differ across these occupations, such as stigma and customer hostility, as well as those that may be more comparable, such as job insecurity, income, and self-employment. Our analysis used mixed-effects regression and included an array of time-varying and time-invariant variables. Our results showed negative associations between mental health and job insecurity and stigma, for both hairstyling and sex work. We also found two occupation-specific relationships: for sex work, limited discretion to make decisions while at work was negatively related to mental health, whereas for hairstyling, mental health was positively associated with self-employment. Our results highlight the usefulness of an inter-occupational labor perspective for understanding the mental health consequences of being in sex work compared to hairstyling.
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Footer KHA, Silberzahn BE, Lim S, Huettner S, Kumar VA, Loeffler D, Peitzmeier SM, Sherman SG. "An ethnographic exploration of factors that drive policing of street-based female sex workers in a U.S. setting - identifying opportunities for intervention". BMC INTERNATIONAL HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS 2020; 20:12. [PMID: 32410616 PMCID: PMC7227297 DOI: 10.1186/s12914-020-00232-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Background Building on a broader sociological discourse around policing approaches towards vulnerable populations, increasing public health and human rights evidence points to policing practices as a key health determinant, particularly among street-based sex workers. Despite the importance of policing as a structural health determinant, few studies have sought to understand the factors that underlie and shape harmful policing practices towards sex workers. This study therefore aimed to explore the drivers for policing attitudes and practices towards street-based cisgender female sex workers. Methods Drawing on ethnographic methods, 280 h of observations with police patrol and 10 stakeholder interviews with senior police leadership in Baltimore City, USA were carried out to better understand the drivers for policing strategies towards cisgender female sex workers. Analysis was data- and theory-driven, drawing on the concepts of police culture and complementary criminological and sociological literature that aided exploration of the influence of the ecological and structural environment on policing practices. Results Ecological factors at the structural (e.g., criminalization), organizational (e.g., violent crime control), community and individual level (e.g., stigmatizing attitudes) emerged as key to shaping individual police practices and attitudes towards cisgender female sex workers in this setting. Findings indicate senior police support for increased alignment with public health and human rights goals. However, the study highlights that interventions need to move beyond individual officer training and address the broader structural and organizational setting in which harmful police practices towards sex work operate. Conclusions A more in-depth understanding of the circumstances that drive law enforcement approaches to street-based sex work is critical to the collaborative design of interventions with police in different settings. In considering public health-police partnerships to address the rights and health of sex worker populations in the U.S. and elsewhere, this study supports existing calls for decriminalization of sex work, supported by institutional and policy reforms, neighborhood-level dialogues that shift the cultural landscape around sex work within both the police and larger community, and innovative individual-level police trainings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine H A Footer
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health, Behavior and Society, 624 N Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Bradley E Silberzahn
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health, Behavior and Society, 624 N Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Sahnah Lim
- New York University School of Medicine, Department of Population Health and Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Steven Huettner
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, 5200 Eastern Ave, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Victor A Kumar
- Johns Hopkins Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Department of Anthropology, 466 Mergenthaler Hall, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Derek Loeffler
- Baltimore City Police Department, Northwestern District, 5271 Reistertown Road, Baltimore, MD, 21215, USA
| | - Sarah M Peitzmeier
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Publissc Health, Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Susan G Sherman
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health, Behavior and Society, 624 N Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
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Williamson LE, Bayly M, Poncelet E, Lawson KL. “It’s just one step in the right direction”: A qualitative exploration of undergraduate student perceptions of #MeToo. THE CANADIAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN SEXUALITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3138/cjhs.2019-0036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
As a social movement, #MeToo offers a chance for individuals to share their stories and connect with others who have been sexually assaulted or harassed. The movement may also facilitate understanding of the scope of sexual assault and harassment worldwide. Preliminary research on #MeToo has provided some insight on potential societal effects of the movement, but many research questions remain unanswered. The current study aims to contribute to the scarcity of research on the #MeToo movement. Through a series of focus groups, a sample of Canadian undergraduates (N = 56) were given the opportunity to discuss their views of why #MeToo is important, the role they think it plays, and their concerns. Students also explored both perceived positive and negative effects of #MeToo, as well as its potential sustainability. The social, structural, and gendered complexities involved in the emergence of the #MeToo movement were highlighted. Positive aspects of the movement that were emphasized included awareness raising, support for assault disclosure, and use of the media as an important tool. However, some individuals were concerned with media being used as a dangerous tool and that some groups have been harmed or excluded from #MeToo. While many participants felt that there is some evidence of #MeToo’s “success,” they believed that with respect to sexual assault and harassment more time may be required before sustained social and structural changes emerge.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Melanie Bayly
- Department of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK
| | - Evan Poncelet
- Department of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK
| | - Karen L. Lawson
- Department of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK
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Moazzami M, Ketende S, Lyons C, Rao A, Taruberekera N, Nkonyana J, Mothopeng T, Schwartz S, Baral S. Characterizing Multi-level Determinants of HIV Prevalence Among Female Sex Workers in Maseru and Maputsoe, Lesotho. AIDS Behav 2020; 24:714-723. [PMID: 31041624 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-019-02495-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Lesotho has a broadly generalized HIV epidemic with nearly one in three reproductive-aged women living with HIV. Given this context, there has been limited research on specific HIV risks. In response, this study aimed to characterize the burden of HIV and multi-level correlates of HIV infection amongst female sex workers (FSW) in Lesotho. Respondent driven sampling was used to recruit 744 FSW from February to September 2014 in Maseru and Maputsoe, Lesotho. Robust Poisson regression was used to model weighted prevalence ratios (PR) for HIV, leveraging a modified social ecological model. The HIV prevalence among participants was 71.9% (534/743), with a mean age of 26.8 (SD 7.2). Both individual and structural determinants involving stigma were significantly associated with HIV. Women with the highest enacted stigma score (≥ 5) had a 26% higher prevalence of HIV than individuals that did not experience any stigma (PR 1.26, 95% CI 1.01, 1.57). These data reinforce the extraordinarily high burden of HIV borne by FSW even in the context of the generalized HIV epidemic observed in Lesotho and across southern Africa. Moreover, stigma represents a structural determinant that is fundamental to an effective HIV response for FSW in Lesotho.
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Community-Based Responses to Negative Health Impacts of Sexual Humanitarian Anti-Trafficking Policies and the Criminalization of Sex Work and Migration in the US. SOCIAL SCIENCES-BASEL 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/socsci9010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
System-involvement resulting from anti-trafficking interventions and the criminalization of sex work and migration results in negative health impacts on sex workers, migrants, and people with trafficking experiences. Due to their stigmatized status, sex workers and people with trafficking experiences often struggle to access affordable, unbiased, and supportive health care. This paper will use thematic analysis of qualitative data from in-depth interviews and ethnographic fieldwork with 50 migrant sex workers and trafficked persons, as well as 20 key informants from legal and social services, in New York and Los Angeles. It will highlight the work of trans-specific and sex worker–led initiatives that are internally addressing gaps in health care and the negative health consequences that result from sexual humanitarian anti-trafficking interventions that include policing, arrest, court-involvement, court-mandated social services, incarceration, and immigration detention. Our analysis focuses on the impact of criminalization on sex workers and their experiences with sexual humanitarian efforts intended to protect and control them. We argue that these grassroots community-based efforts are a survival-oriented reaction to the harms of criminalization and a response to vulnerabilities left unattended by mainstream sexual humanitarian approaches to protection and service provision that frame sex work itself as the problem. Peer-to-peer interventions such as these create solidarity and resiliency within marginalized communities, which act as protective buffers against institutionalized systemic violence and the resulting negative health outcomes. Our results suggest that broader public health support and funding for community-led health initiatives are needed to reduce barriers to health care resulting from stigma, criminalization, and ineffective anti-trafficking and humanitarian efforts. We conclude that the decriminalization of sex work and the reform of institutional practices in the US are urgently needed to reduce the overall negative health outcomes of system-involvement.
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Shaver FM. "The Prostitution Problem": Why Isn't Evidence Used to Inform Policy Initiatives? ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2019; 48:1955-1959. [PMID: 30560344 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-018-1374-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Frances M Shaver
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, H3G 1M8, Canada.
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Benoit C, Smith M, Jansson M, Healey P, Magnuson D. "The Prostitution Problem": Claims, Evidence, and Policy Outcomes. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2019; 48:1905-1923. [PMID: 30498916 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-018-1276-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2018] [Revised: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Prostitution, payment for the exchange of sexual services, is deemed a major social problem in most countries around the world today, with little to no consensus on how to address it. In this Target Article, we unpack what we discern as the two primary positions that undergird academic thinking about the relationship between inequality and prostitution: (1) prostitution is principally an institution of hierarchal gender relations that legitimizes the sexual exploitation of women by men, and (2) prostitution is a form of exploited labor where multiple forms of social inequality (including class, gender, and race) intersect in neoliberal capitalist societies. Our main aims are to: (a) examine the key claims and empirical evidence available to support or refute each perspective; (b) outline the policy responses associated with each perspective; and (c) evaluate which responses have been the most effective in reducing social exclusion of sex workers in societal institutions and everyday practices. While the overall trend globally has been to accept the first perspective on the "prostitution problem" and enact repressive policies that aim to protect prostituted women, punish male buyers, and marginalize the sex sector, we argue that the strongest empirical evidence is for adoption of the second perspective that aims to develop integrative policies that reduce the intersecting social inequalities sex workers face in their struggle to make a living and be included as equals. We conclude with a call for more robust empirical studies that use strategic comparisons of the sex sector within and across regions and between sex work and other precarious occupations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Benoit
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, 2300 McKenzie Ave., Victoria, BC, V8N 5M8, Canada.
| | - Michaela Smith
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, 2300 McKenzie Ave., Victoria, BC, V8N 5M8, Canada
| | - Mikael Jansson
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, 2300 McKenzie Ave., Victoria, BC, V8N 5M8, Canada
| | - Priscilla Healey
- School of Child and Youth Care, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Doug Magnuson
- School of Child and Youth Care, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
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Orchard T, Murie A, Elash HL, Bunch M, Middleton C, Sadakhom D, Oiamo T, Benoit C. "People like us": spatialised notions of health, stigma, power and subjectivity among women in street sex work. CULTURE, HEALTH & SEXUALITY 2019; 21:478-494. [PMID: 30378467 DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2018.1490455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Revised: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Most spatially-oriented studies about health, safety and service provision among women in street sex work have taken place in large urban cities and document how the socio-legal and moral surveillance of geographical spaces constrain their daily movements and compromise their ability to care for themselves. Designed to contribute new knowledge about the broader socio-cultural and environmental landscape of sex work in smaller urban centres, we conducted qualitative interviews and social mapping activities with thirty-three women working in a medium-sized Canadian city. Our findings demonstrate a socio-spatial convergence regarding service provision, violence, and stigma, which is common in sex trading spaces that double as service landscapes for poor populations. Women in this study employ unique agential strategies to navigate these competing forces, many of which draw upon the multivalent uses of different urban spaces to optimise service access, reduce the propensity for violence, and manage their health with dignity. Their use of the spatialised term 'everywhere' as an idiom of distress regarding issues of power, agency and their desire to take part in wider civic discourse are also explored. These data contribute new insights about spatialised notions of health, stigma, agency, and subjectivity among women in sex work and how they manage 'risky' environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Treena Orchard
- a School of Health Studies , University of Western Ontario , London , Ontario , Canada
| | - Angela Murie
- b Department of Social Work , University of Windsor , Windsor , Ontario , Canada
| | | | - Mary Bunch
- d Institute for Gender, Sexuality and Feminist Studies , McGill University , Montreal , Quebec , Canada
| | | | - Danielle Sadakhom
- f Environmental Applied Science and Management , Toronto , Ontario , Canada
| | - Tor Oiamo
- g Department of Geography and Environmental Studies , Ryerson University , Toronto , Ontario , Canada
| | - Cecilia Benoit
- h Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research & Department of Sociology , University of Victoria , Victoria , British Columbia , Canada
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30
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Putnis N, Burr J. Evidence or stereotype? Health inequalities and representations of sex workers in health publications in England. Health (London) 2019; 24:665-683. [PMID: 30854902 DOI: 10.1177/1363459319833242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The health of sex workers is considerably influenced by their position in society and by the marginalisation and stigmatisation they face worldwide. They are frequently criminalised and labelled as deviant, disordered or 'vulnerable': stereotypes that simplify and misrepresent their realities. Sex work policies create social and structural barriers, creating dangerous work environments and exacerbating significant health inequalities. Health organisations and their policies play an important role in highlighting inequalities and guiding health systems in reducing them. In this article, we use a document analysis design to analyse how and when sex workers are depicted in policies and publications by English national health organisations: National Health Service (NHS) England, Public Health England and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, along with the UK Department of Health. We find that sex workers are largely absent in these documents and, when present, are depicted not using evidence, but simplistically with moralistic undertones. The dichotomous constructions found in these texts: vulnerable yet also criminal 'prostitute' reflect wider political and social constructions of sex working women. This not only obscures their realities but also homogenises, blames and stigmatises, ultimately doing the opposite of what these organisations purport to do: it damages their health and well-being.
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Milano G, Vergani HM, Cattedra S, Carrozzino R, Mattioli F, Robbiano L, Martelli A. Co-Occurring Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders: Clinical Survey Among a Rural Cohort of Italian Patients. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2019; 15:3453-3459. [PMID: 31908460 PMCID: PMC6927221 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s222567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Dual diagnosis (DD) is the co-occurrence of both a mental illness and a substance use disorder (SUD). Lots of studies have analysed the integrated clinical approach, which involves both psychiatry and toxicology medical experts. The purpose of this study is to analyse the socio-demographic characteristics and treatment strategies of patients with DD in a rural area of Italy. PATIENTS AND METHODS Clinical data of 750 patients were collected in 2016 through the analysis of health plan records. RESULTS The rate of co-occurring disorders is highly variable among people with SUD. In the considered area, patients with DD are 24%, of these only 46.1% have been treated with an integrated clinical program. Moreover, this percentage is further reduced (35.8%) if only patients with heroin use disorder are considered. CONCLUSION A comprehensive revision of DD treatment is needed, especially for people suffering from heroin use disorder and living in remote areas. Meticulous data analysis from other addiction health services of rural areas could be necessary to identify a science-based clinical intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Milano
- Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Hayley M Vergani
- Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Simone Cattedra
- Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Francesca Mattioli
- Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Luigi Robbiano
- Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Antonietta Martelli
- Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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Benoit C, Smith M, Jansson M, Magnus S, Maurice R, Flagg J, Reist D. Canadian Sex Workers Weigh the Costs and Benefits of Disclosing Their Occupational Status to Health Providers. SEXUALITY RESEARCH & SOCIAL POLICY : JOURNAL OF NSRC : SR & SP 2018; 16:329-341. [PMID: 31423291 PMCID: PMC6669194 DOI: 10.1007/s13178-018-0339-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Prostitution stigma has been shown to negatively affect the work, personal lives, and health of sex workers. Research also shows that sex workers have much higher unmet health care needs than the general population. Less is known about how stigma obstructs their health-seeking behaviors. For our thematic analysis, we explored Canadian sex workers' accounts (N = 218) of accessing health care services for work-related health concerns. Results show that participants had mixed feelings about revealing their work status in health care encounters. Those who decided not to disclose were fearful of negative treatment or expressed confidentiality concerns or lack of relevancy. Those who divulged their occupational status to a health provider mainly described benefits, including nonjudgment, relationship building, and comprehensive care, while a minority experienced costs that included judgment, stigma, and inappropriate health care. Overall, health professionals in Canada appear to be doing a good job relating to sex workers who come forward for care. There is still a need for some providers to learn how to better converse with, diagnose, and care for people in sex work jobs that take into account the heavy costs associated with prostitution stigma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Benoit
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research and Department of Sociology, University of Victoria, 2300 McKenzie Ave., Victoria, BC V8N 5M8 Canada
| | - Michaela Smith
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC Canada
| | - Mikael Jansson
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research and Department of Sociology, University of Victoria, 2300 McKenzie Ave., Victoria, BC V8N 5M8 Canada
| | - Samantha Magnus
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC Canada
| | - Renay Maurice
- Department of Sociology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC Canada
| | - Jackson Flagg
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC Canada
| | - Dan Reist
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC Canada
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Benoit C, Jansson SM, Smith M, Flagg J. Prostitution Stigma and Its Effect on the Working Conditions, Personal Lives, and Health of Sex Workers. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2018; 55:457-471. [PMID: 29148837 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2017.1393652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Researchers have shown that stigma is a fundamental determinant of behavior, well-being, and health for many marginalized groups, but sex workers are notably absent from their analyses. This article aims to fill the empirical research gap on sex workers by reviewing the mounting evidence of stigmatization attached to sex workers' occupation, often referred to as "prostitution" or "whore" stigma. We give special attention to its negative effect on the working conditions, personal lives, and health of sex workers. The article first draws attention to the problem of terminology related to the subject area and makes the case for consideration of prostitution stigmatization as a fundamental cause of social inequality. We then examined the sources of prostitution stigma at macro, meso, and micro levels. The third section focuses on tactics sex workers employ to manage, reframe, or resist occupational stigma. We conclude with a call for more comparative studies of stigma related to sex work to contribute to the general stigma literature, as well as social policy and law reform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Benoit
- a Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia , University of Victoria
| | - S Mikael Jansson
- a Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia , University of Victoria
| | - Michaela Smith
- a Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia , University of Victoria
| | - Jackson Flagg
- a Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia , University of Victoria
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Benoit C, Smith M, Jansson M, Magnus S, Flagg J, Maurice R. Sex work and three dimensions of self-esteem: self-worth, authenticity and self-efficacy. CULTURE, HEALTH & SEXUALITY 2018; 20:69-83. [PMID: 28548011 DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2017.1328075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Sex work is assumed to have a negative effect on self-esteem, nearly exclusively expressed as low self-worth, due to its social unacceptability and despite the diversity of persons, positions and roles within the sex industry. In this study, we asked a heterogeneous sample of 218 Canadian sex workers delivering services in various venues about how their work affected their sense of self. Using thematic analysis based on a three-dimensional conception of self-esteem - self-worth (viewing oneself in a favourable light), authenticity (being one's true self) and self-efficacy (competency) - we shed light on the relationship between involvement in sex work and self-esteem. Findings demonstrate that the relationship between sex work and self-esteem is complex: the majority of participants discussed multiple dimensions of self-esteem and often spoke of how sex work had both positive and negative effects on their sense of self. Social background factors, work location and life events and experiences also had an effect on self-esteem. Future research should take a more complex approach to understanding these issues by considering elements beyond self-worth, such as authenticity and self-efficacy, and examining how sex workers' backgrounds and individual motivations intersect with these three dimensions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Benoit
- a Centre for Addictions Research , University of Victoria , Victoria , Canada
- b Department of Sociology , University of Victoria , Victoria , Canada
| | - Michaela Smith
- a Centre for Addictions Research , University of Victoria , Victoria , Canada
| | - Mikael Jansson
- a Centre for Addictions Research , University of Victoria , Victoria , Canada
- b Department of Sociology , University of Victoria , Victoria , Canada
| | - Samantha Magnus
- a Centre for Addictions Research , University of Victoria , Victoria , Canada
| | - Jackson Flagg
- a Centre for Addictions Research , University of Victoria , Victoria , Canada
| | - Renay Maurice
- a Centre for Addictions Research , University of Victoria , Victoria , Canada
- b Department of Sociology , University of Victoria , Victoria , Canada
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Bird Y, Lemstra M, Rogers M, Moraros J. Third-world realities in a first-world setting: A study of the HIV/AIDS-related conditions and risk behaviors of sex trade workers in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. SAHARA J 2017; 13:152-61. [PMID: 27616600 PMCID: PMC5642440 DOI: 10.1080/17290376.2016.1229213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The transmission and prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) among those employed as sex trade workers (STW) is a major public health concern. The present study describes the self-reported responses of 340 STW, at-risk for contracting HIV. The participants were recruited by selective targeting between 2009 and 2010 from within the Saskatoon Health Region (SHR), Saskatchewan, Canada. As of 2012, the SHR has the highest incidence rate of positive test reports for HIV in Canada, at more than three times the national average (17.0 vs. 5.9 per 100,000 people). Additionally, the epidemiology of HIV/AIDS in the SHR is different from that seen elsewhere in Canada (still mostly men having sex with men and Caucasians), with its new HIV cases predominantly associated with injection drug use and Aboriginal cultural status. The purpose of this study was to (a) describe the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the STW in the SHR, (b) identify their significant life events, self-reported problems, knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, self-efficacy, and barriers regarding HIV, and (c) determine the significant independent risk indicators for STW self-reporting a chance of greater than 50% of becoming infected with HIV/AIDS. The majority of the study participants were females, who were never married, of Aboriginal descent, without a high school diploma, and had an annual income of less than $10,000. Using multivariate regression analysis, four significant independent risk indicators were associated with STW reporting a greater that 50% chance of acquiring HIV/AIDS, including experiencing sexual assault as a child, injecting drugs in the past four weeks, being homeless, and a previous Chlamydia diagnosis. These findings provide important evidence of the essential sexual and drug-related vulnerabilities associated with the risk of HIV infection among STW and offer insight into the design and implementation of effective and culturally sensitive public health intervention and prevention efforts. To be most effective, it is recommended that such intervention and prevention initiatives: (1) use specifically tailored community-based outreach to high risk STW who are drug users and link them with appropriate drug treatment and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services, (2) provide free and confidential, routine HIV counseling and testing in substance abuse programs, and (3) build capacity among the local, Aboriginal NGOs so as to address with cultural sensitivity both the drug and HIV-related risk factors prevalent among this vulnerable population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yelena Bird
- a MD, PhD, MPH, is an Assistant Professor at the School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan , Saskatchewan , Canada
| | - Mark Lemstra
- b DrPH, PhD, is an Adjunct Professor at the School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan , Saskatchewan , Canada
| | - Marla Rogers
- c BA, MPA, is a Researcher at the College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan , Saskatchewan , Canada
| | - John Moraros
- d MD, PhD, MPH, is an Associate Professor at the School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan , Saskatchewan , Canada
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Benoit C, Belle-Isle L, Smith M, Phillips R, Shumka L, Atchison C, Jansson M, Loppie C, Flagg J. Sex workers as peer health advocates: community empowerment and transformative learning through a Canadian pilot program. Int J Equity Health 2017; 16:160. [PMID: 28854930 PMCID: PMC5577770 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-017-0655-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Social marginalization and criminalization create health and safety risks for sex workers and reduce their access to health promotion and prevention services compared to the general population. Community empowerment-based interventions that prioritize the engagement of sex workers show promising results. Peer-to-peer interventions, wherein sex workers act as educators of their colleagues, managers, clients and romantic partners, foster community mobilization and critical consciousness among sex workers and equip them to exercise agency in their work and personal lives. Methods A pilot peer health education program was developed and implemented, with and for sex workers in one urban centre in Canada. To explore how the training program contributed to community empowerment and transformative learning among participants, the authors conducted qualitative interviews, asked participants to keep personal journals and to fill out feedback forms after each session. Thematic analysis was conducted on these three data sources, with emerging themes identified, organized and presented in the findings. Results Five themes emerged from the analysis. Our findings show that the pilot program led to reduced internalized stigma and increased self-esteem in participants. Participants’ critical consciousness increased concerning issues of diversity in cultural background, sexual orientation, work experiences and gender identity. Participants gained knowledge about how sex work stigma is enacted and perpetuated. They also became increasingly comfortable challenging negative judgments from others, including frontline service providers. Participants were encouraged to actively shape the training program, which fostered positive relationships and solidarity among them, as well as with colleagues in their social network and with the local sex worker organization housing the program. Resources were also mobilized within the sex worker community through skills building and knowledge acquisition. Conclusion The peer education program proved successful in enhancing sex workers’ community empowerment in one urban setting by increasing their knowledge about health issues, sharing information about and building confidence in accessing services, and expanding capacity to disseminate this knowledge to others. This ‘proof of concept’ built the foundation for a long-term initiative in this setting and has promise for other jurisdictions wishing to adapt similar programs. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12939-017-0655-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Benoit
- Centre for Addictions Research of BC, University of Victoria, PO Box 1700 STN CSC, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada. .,Department of Sociology, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada.
| | - Lynne Belle-Isle
- Centre for Addictions Research of BC, University of Victoria, PO Box 1700 STN CSC, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada.,Canadian AIDS Society, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Michaela Smith
- Centre for Addictions Research of BC, University of Victoria, PO Box 1700 STN CSC, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Rachel Phillips
- Centre for Addictions Research of BC, University of Victoria, PO Box 1700 STN CSC, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada.,Peers Victoria Resource Society, Victoria, Canada
| | - Leah Shumka
- Centre for Addictions Research of BC, University of Victoria, PO Box 1700 STN CSC, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada.,Peers Victoria Resource Society, Victoria, Canada
| | - Chris Atchison
- Department of Sociology, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
| | - Mikael Jansson
- Centre for Addictions Research of BC, University of Victoria, PO Box 1700 STN CSC, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada.,Department of Sociology, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
| | - Charlotte Loppie
- Centre for Indigenous Research and Community-Led Engagement, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
| | - Jackson Flagg
- Centre for Addictions Research of BC, University of Victoria, PO Box 1700 STN CSC, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada
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“Well, It Should Be Changed for One, Because It’s Our Bodies”: Sex Workers’ Views on Canada’s Punitive Approach towards Sex Work. SOCIAL SCIENCES 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/socsci6020052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
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Luongo NM, Dong H, Kerr TH, Milloy MJS, Hayashi K, Richardson LA. Income generation and attitudes towards addiction treatment among people who use illicit drugs in a Canadian setting. Addict Behav 2017; 64:159-164. [PMID: 27614055 PMCID: PMC5143201 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.08.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Revised: 08/16/2016] [Accepted: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Socioeconomically marginalized people who use illicit drugs (PWUD) often engage in alternative income generating activities to meet their basic needs. These activities commonly carry a number of health and social risks, which may prompt some PWUD to consider addiction treatment to reduce their drug use or drug-related expenses. We sought to determine whether engaging in certain forms of income generation was independently associated with self-reported need for addiction treatment among a cohort of PWUD in Vancouver, Canada. METHODS Data from two prospective cohorts of PWUD in Vancouver were used in generalized estimating equations to identify factors associated with self-reported need for addiction treatment, with a focus on income generating activities. RESULTS Between June 2013 and May 2014, 1285 respondents participated in the study of whom 483 (34.1%) were female and 396 (30.8%) indicated that they needed addiction treatment. In final multivariate analyses, key factors significantly and positively associated with self-reported need for addiction treatment included engaging in illegal income generating activities (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=1.96, 95% confidence interval [CI}: 1.11-3.46); sex work (AOR=1.61, 95% CI: 1.05-2.47), homelessness (AOR=1.65, 95% CI: 1.22-2.25); and recent engagement in counselling (AOR=1.85, 95% CI: 1.40-2.44). DISCUSSION Our results suggest that key markers of socioeconomic marginalization are strongly linked with a stated need for addiction treatment. These findings underscore the need to provide appropriate and accessible addiction treatment access to marginalized PWUD and to consider alternative approaches to reduce socioeconomic disadvantage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole M Luongo
- Department of Sociology, University of British Columbia, 6303 NW Marine Drive, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - Huiru Dong
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Thomas H Kerr
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, Division of AIDS, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - M-J S Milloy
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, Division of AIDS, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Kanna Hayashi
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, Division of AIDS, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Lindsey A Richardson
- Department of Sociology, University of British Columbia, 6303 NW Marine Drive, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada; British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada.
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Benoit C, Ouellet N, Jansson M. Unmet health care needs among sex workers in five census metropolitan areas of Canada. Canadian Journal of Public Health 2016; 107:e266-e271. [PMID: 27763841 DOI: 10.17269/cjph.107.5178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2015] [Revised: 04/26/2016] [Accepted: 02/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This paper examines unmet health care needs in one of Canada's most hard-to-reach populations, adult sex workers, and investigates whether their reasons for not accessing health care are different from those of other Canadians. METHODS Data gathered in 2012-2013 from sex workers aged 19 and over (n = 209) in five Canadian census metropolitan areas (CMAs) were analyzed to estimate the perceived health, health care access and level of unmet health care needs of sex workers, and their principal reasons for not accessing health care. These data were collected using questions identical to those of the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) Cycle 2.1, 2003. The results were compared with those of residents aged 19 and over in the same CMAs who had participated in the CCHS. RESULTS Sex workers reported notably worse perceived mental health, poorer social determinants of health (with the exception of income) and nearly triple the prevalence of unmet health care needs (40.4% vs. 14.9%). Those with the greatest unmet health care needs in both groups were younger, unmarried or single and in poorer health, and reported lower income and a weaker sense of community belonging. Even without these within-group risk factors, sex workers were more likely to report unmet health care needs compared with CCHS respondents. Sex workers were also more likely to identify "didn't get around to it", "too busy", "cost", "transportation problems" and "dislike doctors/afraid" as reasons for eschewing care. CONCLUSION Equity policies that reduce cost and transportation barriers may go some way in helping sex workers access needed health care. Qualitative research is needed to better understand the realities of sex workers' personal and work lives, including the degree of freedom they have in accessing health care when they need it, but also their experiences when they do manage to engage with the health care system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Benoit
- Scientist, Centre for Addictions Research of BC and Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC.
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