BackgroundWomen involved in both street-level and off-street sex work face disproportionate health and social inequities compared to the general population. While much research has focused on HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among sex workers, there remains a gap in evidence regarding the broader health issues faced by this population, including mental health. Given limited evidence describing the mental health of women in sex work, our objective was to evaluate the burden and correlates of mental health diagnoses among this population in Vancouver, Canada.MethodsAn Evaluation of Sex Workers Health Access (AESHA) is a prospective, community-based cohort of on- and off-street women in sex work in Vancouver, Canada. Participants complete interviewer-administered questionnaires semi-annually. We analyzed the lifetime burden and correlates of self-reported mental health diagnoses using bivariate and multivariable logistic regression.ResultsAmong 692 sex workers enrolled between January 2010 and February 2013, 338 (48.8%) reported ever being diagnosed with a mental health issue, with the most common diagnoses being depression (35.1%) and anxiety (19.9%). In multivariable analysis, women with mental health diagnoses were more likely to identify as a sexual/gender minority (LGBTQ) [AOR=2.56, 95% CI: 1.72—3.81], to use non-injection drugs [AOR=1.85, 95% CI: 1.12—3.08], to have experienced childhood physical/sexual trauma [AOR=2.90, 95% CI: 1.89—4.45], and work in informal indoor [AOR=1.94, 95% CI: 1.12 – 3.40] or street/public spaces [AOR=1.76, 95% CI: 1.03–2.99].ConclusionsThis analysis highlights the disproportionate mental health burden experienced by women in sex work, particularly among those identifying as a sexual/gender minority, those who use drugs, and those who work in informal indoor venues and street/public spaces. Evidence-informed interventions tailored to sex workers that address intersections between trauma and mental health should be further explored, alongside policies to foster access to safer workspaces and health services.
Purpose Few studies have examined gender-based differences in the risk of hepatitis C (HCV) infection among street-involved youth. We compared rates of HCV infection among male and female street-involved youth in a Canadian setting. Methods The At-Risk Youth Study (ARYS) is a prospective cohort of drug-using, street-involved youth. Study recruitment and follow-up occurred in Vancouver, Canada, between September 2005 and November 2011. Eligible participants were illicit drug-using youth aged 14–26 years at enrollment, recruited by street-based outreach. We evaluated rates of HCV antibody seroconversion, measured every six months during study follow-up, and used Cox proportional hazards regression to compare risk factors for HCV incidence between male and female street youth. Results Among 512 HCV-seronegative youth contributing 836 person-years of follow-up, 56 (10.9%) seroconverted to HCV. Among female participants, the incidence density of HCV infection was 10.9 per 100 person-years and in males 5.1 per 100 person-years (p = 0.009). In multivariate analyses, female gender was independently associated with a higher rate of HCV seroconversion (Adjusted Hazard Ratio (AHR) = 2.01; 95% Confidence Interval [CI], 1.18 – 3.44). Risk factors were similar in gender stratified analyses and included injection heroin and injection crystal methamphetamine, although syringe sharing was only associated with HCV incidence among males. Conclusions Among street-involved youth in this setting, females had double the incidence of HCV seroconversion demonstrating the need for gender focused HCV prevention interventions for this population.
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