Journal of Infectious Diseases
Volume 204, Issue SUPPL. 5, 2011, Pages S1229-S1234

Sex trafficking and initiation-related violence, alcohol use, and HIV risk among HIV-infected female sex workers in Mumbai, India (Article) (Open Access)

Silverman J.G.* , Raj A. , Cheng D.M. , Decker M.R. , Coleman S. , Bridden C. , Pardeshi M. , Saggurti N. , Samet J.H.
  • a Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California at San Diego School of Medicine, 9500 Gilman Dr, San Diego, CA 92093-0507, United States
  • b Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California at San Diego School of Medicine, 9500 Gilman Dr, San Diego, CA 92093-0507, United States
  • c Department of Biostatistics, United States
  • d Department of Population Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
  • e Data Coordinating Center, Boston University School of Public Health, United States
  • f Department of Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine/Boston Medical Center, MA, United States
  • g Network of Maharashtra by People Living with HIV and AIDS, (NMP+), Pune, India
  • h Population Council, New Delhi, India
  • i Department of Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine/Boston Medical Center, MA, United States

Abstract

Female sex workers (FSWs) are the group at greatest risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in India. Women and girls trafficked (ie, forced or coerced) into sex work are thought to be at even greater risk because of high exposure to violence and unprotected sex, particularly during the early months of sex work, that is, at initiation. Surveys were completed with HIV-infected FSWs (n = 211) recruited from an HIV-related service organization in Mumbai, India. Approximately 2 in 5 participants (41.7%) reported being forced or coerced into sex work. During the first month in sex work, such FSWs had higher odds of sexual violence (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6-6.1), ≥7 clients per day (AOR, 3.3; 1.8-6.1), no use of condoms (AOR, 3.8, 2.1-7.1), and frequent alcohol use (AOR, 1.9; 1.0-3.4) than HIV-infected FSWs not entering involuntarily. Those trafficked into sex work were also at higher odds for alcohol use at first sex work episode (AOR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.2-4.0). These results suggest that having been trafficked into sex work is prevalent among this population and that such FSWs may face high levels of sexual violence, alcohol use, and exposure to HIV infection in the first month of sex work. Findings call into question harm reduction approaches to HIV prevention that rely primarily on FSW autonomy. © 2011 The Author.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

urban population HIV Infections sexual trafficking Alcohol Drinking drinking behavior Human immunodeficiency virus infection sexual behavior India alcohol consumption HIV human risk assessment violence condom controlled study priority journal Young Adult Humans Interviews as Topic Chi-Square Distribution female Risk Factors high risk population prostitution prevalence sexual abuse Article major clinical study adult infection risk Sex Workers sexual violence
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-80755168266&doi=10.1093%2finfdis%2fjir540&partnerID=40&md5=ada0f3824d1db64e5ff26da01ea1120b
DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jir540
ISSN: 00221899
Cited by: 42
Original Language: English