American Journal of Public Health
Volume 87, Issue 1, 1997, Pages 66-70

Sex trading and psychological distress among women recruited from the streets of Harlem (Article) (Open Access)

El-Bassel N.* , Schilling R.F. , Irwin K.L. , Faruque S. , Gilbert L. , Von Bargen J. , Serrano Y. , Edlin B.R.
  • a Social Intervention Group, School of Social Work, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States, DSW, Columbia Univ. School of Social Work, 622 W 113th St, New York, NY 10025, United States
  • b Social Intervention Group, School of Social Work, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
  • c Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Dis. Contr. and Prev., Atlanta, GA, United States
  • d Assoc. Drug Abuse Prev. and Treatm., New York, NY, United States
  • e Social Intervention Group, School of Social Work, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
  • f Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Dis. Contr. and Prev., Atlanta, GA, United States
  • g Assoc. Drug Abuse Prev. and Treatm., New York, NY, United States
  • h Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Dis. Contr. and Prev., Atlanta, GA, United States

Abstract

Objectives. This study examines the relationship between sex trading and psychological distress and the implications of that relationship for prevention of human immunodeficiency virus among a sample of young women recruited from the streets of Harlem. Methods. Interviews were conducted with 346 predominantly drug-using women, aged 18 to 29 years, of whom 176 had exchanged sex for money or drugs in the previous 30 days and were categorized as 'sex traders.' Psychological distress was measured by using the Brief Symptom Inventory. Results. Sex traders scored significantly higher than non- sex traders on the General Severity Index and on eight of the nine subscales of the Brief Symptom Inventory. Multivariate analysis indicated that after adjustments were made for age; ethnicity; pregnancy; recent rape; perceived risk for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; current, regular crack use; and current, regular alcohol use, sex traders scored 0.240 units higher on the General Severity Index than non-sex traders. Conclusions. Poor mental health and drug dependence may undermine the motivation and ability of these sex traders to adopt safer sex behavior. Therefore, interventions need to be integrated with mental health services and drug treatment to reduce risk behavior in this population.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

distress syndrome mental stress female major clinical study risk factor Multivariate Analysis alcoholism sexual behavior drug dependence ethnology Article acquired immune deficiency syndrome risk assessment human adult Rape
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0031031649&doi=10.2105%2fAJPH.87.1.66&partnerID=40&md5=17e607fb2111209e9fd739c31415b3af
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.87.1.66
ISSN: 00900036
Cited by: 143
Original Language: English