Drug use, sexual risk, and structural vulnerability among female sex workers in two urban centers of the Dominican Republic: The EPIC study

Pérez-Figueroa, Rafael; Mittal, Ishaan; Halpern, Mimi; Perez-Mencia, Martha; Donastorg, Yeycy; Taylor, B.S.; Amesty, Silvia

doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108039

Cited by 10 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…In the current study, more than one in four women reported having exchanged sex for money, food or accommodation. This situation, although already reported among Dominican women, is non-marginal among all the migrants studied ( 22 ). Arriving before 2020 is a risk factor, suggesting an increase in risk over time in the context of survival or a different probability to experience cumulative incidence.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 50%

“…The profile of migrant women may also have changed during the COVID crisis. Transactional sex is also strongly associated with physical violence and threats, highlighting the cumulative and structural vulnerability identified in many studies ( 22 , 23 ). From this point of view, all these hardships should be an alarm to better detect and accompany vulnerability.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sexual vulnerability of migrant women in the multicultural context of French Guiana: A societal issue

Alcouffe

Huber²,

Creton³

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

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BackgroundFrench Guiana is a multicultural French territory in Amazonia with an old migration history and a high prevalence of HIV infection. The objective of this study was to evaluate situations of sexual vulnerability and their associated factors among migrant women in French Guiana.MethodsA cross-sectional epidemiological study was carried out in 2021 in the French Red Cross Prevention and Health Centers of the two main cities of French Guiana (Cayenne and Saint Laurent du Maroni). Analysis was performed with multivariate stepwise logistic regression using Stata 15.0 software.FindingsA total of 382 migrant women were included, with a median age of 31 years, mainly born in Haiti (80%), Suriname (9%), or Dominican Republic (6%), undocumented (71%), and with financial difficulties (77%). Among the 20% having casual partners, 57% reported unprotected sexual intercourse, more often the Haitian and Surinamese women. A history of rape was reported by 20% of women, most often in the country of origin (71%). Lifetime rape was associated with being threatened [aOR = 3.69 (1.96–6.96)] or being physically abused [aOR = 12.95 (6.51–25.75)] in the multivariate analysis. Among the women surveyed, 30% reported having ever exchanged sex for money, food, or shelter in their lifetime. Transactional sex is more common among Dominican women [aOR = 5.59 (1.84–16.95)] and women living in French Guiana for more than 2 years [aOR = 2.32 (1.38–3.92)]. Transactional sex is also associated with alcohol misuse [aOR = 2.57 (1.46–4.53)], history of threats [aOR = 2.03 (1.14–3.63)], history of rape [aOR = 1.92 (1.03–3.60)], and depressive disorders [aOR = 2.08 (1.21–3.60)].InterpretationMigrant women in French Guiana are in a situation of sexual vulnerability. An intervention focused on sexual education and the promotion of prevention tools among Haitian women is advisable. Better prevention and support for transactional sex are needed to prevent violence and its mental health and alcohol misuse consequences for all women, especially Dominican women.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 50%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual vulnerability of migrant women in the multicultural context of French Guiana: A societal issue

Alcouffe

Huber²,

Creton³

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It is possible that coerced women had fewer options for choosing clients and sexual practices and had to deal with undesirable situations involuntarily. It has been stated that when the economic situation is bleak, prices for sexual acts fall, and sex workers undertake more practices without protection (Pando et al, 2013; Pérez-Figueroa et al, 2020; Shannon et al, 2014). We need to investigate whether coerced women are forced to undertake all types of sex acts against their will.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Those studies with samples that approach a larger number of sex workers are concentrated predominantly in the field of health and criminology, meaning that they are clinical or captive samples, and not representative of all women working in commercial sex. These studies deal with the following issues: determining prevalence of diseases or circumstances of psychological or mental health; criminal or criminological behaviours, whether deviant or pathological (Cusick, 2006); and the consumption of drugs (Cusick, 1998; Pérez-Figueroa et al, 2020). Fewer in number are those studies that handle samples of people who make a living from sex work, in which they describe the characteristics of their lives, without being pathologised or seen as a social problem.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex worker or victim? Exploring the sex industry in Spain

Falcón

2023

European Journal of Women's Studies

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This article examines entry into paid sex work in Spain, comparing those people who entered sex work by choice and those who were coerced. There is a dearth of research that focusses on documenting the circumstances and conditions in which women engage in commercial sex work in Spain and on examining their opinions about current or planned legislation to regulate sex work. The article is based on a cross-sectional study using a sociological survey of people who work in indoor commercial sex, which is the least visible form of sex work in the Spanish context and about which we have the least information due to stigmatisation, both of the activity and of the people involved. This article considers the circumstances and working conditions of sex workers, and their views and position with regard to the legal framework for this activity. This focus is important at a political juncture in which a policy of criminalisation of sex work is being considered in Spain.

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“… 4 , 5 , 6 FSW also experience substance use disorders, which can increase their risk for other health problems such as hepatitis C infection, overdoses, and other related health problems. 4 , 7 Finally, many FSW experience mental health problems; among FSW in LMIC, the pooled prevalence of depression was 41·8% with 22·8% experiencing suicide ideation and 6·3% a recent suicide attempt. 8…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%