International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Volume 117, Issue 2, 2012, Pages 173-177

Sex trade among young women attending family-planning clinics in Northern California (Article)

Decker M.R.* , Miller E. , McCauley H.L. , Tancredi D.J. , Levenson R.R. , Waldman J. , Schoenwald P. , Silverman J.G.
  • a Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe Street, E4142, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
  • b Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, United States
  • c Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, United States
  • d Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, United States
  • e Family Violence Prevention Fund, San Francisco, United States
  • f Planned Parenthood Shasta Diablo Affiliate, Concord, United States
  • g Planned Parenthood Shasta Diablo Affiliate, Concord, United States
  • h Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California at San Diego, San Diego, United States

Abstract

Objective: To describe the prevalence and nature of sex trade in a clinic-based sample of young women and to evaluate associations with sexual and reproductive health. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with women aged 16-29 years (n = 1277) presenting to family-planning clinics in Northern California, USA. Results: Overall, 8.1% of respondents indicated a lifetime history of trading sex for money or other resources. Sex trade was associated with unintended pregnancy (adjusted risk ratio [ARR] 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-1.48), multiple abortions (ARR 1.63; 95% CI, 1.19-2.23), STI diagnosis (ARR 1.46; 95% CI, 1.27-1.68), and unwanted sex (vaginal ARR 3.64; 95% CI, 2.39-5.56; anal ARR 4.99; 95% CI, 2.17-11.50). Of the women ever involved in sex trade, 12 (37.3%) reported that their first such experience was before they were 18 years of age. Conclusion: Approximately 1 in 12 participants had been involved in sex trade, illustrating the presence of patients with this history within the family-planning clinical setting. Sex trade was associated with multiple indicators of poor sexual and reproductive health. Family-planning clinics may represent an underused mechanism for engaging this high-risk population. © 2012 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.

Author Keywords

STI/HIV Sexual risk reproductive health violence Unintended pregnancy Sex trade

Index Keywords

human priority journal money anilingus sexually transmitted disease United States Adolescent female high risk population prostitution sexual health prevalence unwanted pregnancy Article major clinical study adult sexual intercourse Reproductive Health abortion family planning health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84859583297&doi=10.1016%2fj.ijgo.2011.12.019&partnerID=40&md5=5ffa6d72d54d5c3607572457fe7228b1
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2011.12.019
ISSN: 00207292
Cited by: 14
Original Language: English