BackgroundDespite a large body of evidence globally demonstrating that the criminalization of sex workers increases HIV/STI risks, we know far less about the impact of criminalization and policing of managers and in-call establishments on HIV/STI prevention among sex workers, and even less so among migrant sex workers.MethodsAnalysis draws on ethnographic fieldwork and 46 qualitative interviews with migrant sex workers, managers and business owners of in-call sex work venues in Metro Vancouver, Canada.ResultsThe criminalization of in-call venues and third parties explicitly limits sex workers’ access to HIV/STI prevention, including manager restrictions on condoms and limited onsite access to sexual health information and HIV/STI testing. With limited labour protections and socio-cultural barriers, criminalization and policing undermine the health and human rights of migrant sex workers working in –call venues.ConclusionsThis research supports growing evidence-based calls for decriminalization of sex work, including the removal of criminal sanctions targeting third parties and in-call venues, alongside programs and policies that better protect the working conditions of migrant sex workers as critical to HIV/STI prevention and human rights.
Background:Several of the most commonly prescribed medications for women with rheumatic disease are teratogens, posing a risk for pregnancy loss and birth defects if taken in pregnancy. To prevent these life-altering complications, it is important that all women taking teratogenic medications avoid pregnancy through abstinence or contraception.Objectives:We sought to understand the accessibility to contraceptive data within the RISE Registry and to test whether, compared to other women, those prescribed a teratogen would be more likely to have documentation of contraceptive.Methods:Data were derived from Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness (RISE), a national EHR-enabled rheumatology registry that passively collects data on all patients seen by participating practices. As of 2018, RISE held validated data from 1,113 clinicians in 226 practices, representing an estimated 32% of the U.S. clinical rheumatology workforce. Female patients between the ages 18-45 with an anti-rheumatic medication prescribed within the RISE system in 2018 were stratified into one of 3 groups: 1) Any teratogen (methotrexate, mycophenolate, mycophenolic acid, cyclophosphamide, leflunomide, thalidomide, lenalidomide); 2) Only pregnancy-compatible medications (hydroxychloroquine, azathioprine, or a TNF-α inhibitors [TNFi]); and 3) Any medication with unknown teratogenicity (non-TNF biologics and new small molecule medications). We identified the most recent contraceptive medication or device reported in 2018 using structured fields in the EHR. Contraceptive effectiveness was classified as ‘highly effective’ (IUD, Nexplanon, and surgical) and ‘effective’ (oral contraceptives, depo-provera, patch, ring), and unknown (type not reported). Statistical significance was assessed using Stata SE 15.1.Results:In 2018, 110,359 women between the ages of 18-45 were prescribed an anti-rheumatic medication within the RISE Registry. Of these, 11,569 (10.5%) had a contraceptive documented at the last visit. The frequency of contraception documentation varied between practices, ranging from 0% to 28.7% (median 9.2%).Contraception was documented slightly less often in women receiving teratogens (9.8%) compared to women receiving only pregnancy-compatible medications (10.4%, p=0.04) and medications with unknown pregnancy risks (10.0%, p=0.67).The frequency of contraceptive documentation in women prescribed a teratogen varied significantly by race with white women having the highest rate (11.0%) compared to African-American women (7.4%, p<0.001), Hispanic women (5.5%, p<0.001), and Asian women (8.4%, p=0.08).The type of contraceptive documented did not vary significantly between medication group. Highly effective contraception was rarely documented (1.4-1.6%) and moderately-effective hormonal contraceptives were more frequently documented (6.3-8.2%).Conclusion:This study is limited to the analysis of structured fields within the RISE Registry, thereby missing contraceptive documentation within the clinician notes. Increased uniformity in documentation and/or analysis of visit notes will be essential to use the RISE Registry to study the implementation of published contraceptive guidelines. While the documentation of contraception identified in this analysis of the RISE Registry likely under-estimates actual contraceptive use, it reveals important gaps in care. Contrary to what was expected, women prescribed a teratogen were not more likely than other women to have a documented contraceptive. Additionally, important racial disparities in contraception documentation suggest that rheumatologists may not addressing reproductive health needs equally across patient populations.Acknowledgments Disclaimer:This data was supported by the ACR’s RISE Registry. However, the views expressed represent those of the authors, not necessarily those of the ACRDisclosure of Interests:Megan Clowse Grant/research support from: GSK, Pfizer, Consultant of: UCB, Astra-Zeneca, Speakers bureau: UCB, Jing Li: None declared, Mehret Birru Talabi: None declared, Amanda Eudy: None declared, Gabriela Schmajuk Grant/research support from: Pfizer
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