Mental health challenges and perceived risks among female sex workers in Nairobi, Kenya

Panneh, Mamtuti; Gafos, Mitzy; Nyariki, Emily; Liku, Jennifer; Shah, Pooja; Wanjiru, Rhoda; Wanjiru, Mary; Beksinska, Alicja; Pollock, James K.; Gwala, Demtilla; Oside, Daisy; Kamene, Ruth; Watata, Agnes; Atieno, Agnes; Njau, Faith; Njeri, Elizabeth; Orobi, Evelyn; Lwingi, Ibrahim; Jama, Zaina; Babu, Hellen; Kaul, Rupert; Seeley, Janet; Bradley, John S.; Kimani, Joshua; Beattie, Tara

doi:10.1186/s12889-022-14527-5

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…This finding suggests that specific subpopulations within KPs may have distinct mental health needs and risk factors. Similar studies have demonstrated the unique challenges FSW and PWID face regarding mental health [23,24]. Tailoring mental health support to these subgroups is imperative.…”

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 76%

Prevalence and factors associated with psychological distress among key populations in Nigeria

Ochonye,

Emmanuel,

Abang

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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Background Stigmatization and discrimination within healthcare settings deter key populations (KPs) from seeking mental health and psychosocial support (MHPS). Consequently, understanding the prevalence, associated factors, and impact of the MHPSS intervention on psychological distress among Nigeria’s KPs is crucial. Method This is a cross-sectional study focused on KPs, including Female Sex Workers (FSW), Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), and People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) enrolled in Heartland Alliance LTD/GTE across 17 One-Stop Shops (OSS) in six states of Nigeria. Data were extracted from the databases of the OSS. PD was assessed using the Mental Health Screening Form III (MHSF-III). Descriptive statistics and univariable and multivariable binary logistic regression models were done using IBM-SPSS version 28. Results The prevalence of PD among the KPs was 9.7%. Higher rates were observed among FSWs (12.0%). Of the 22310 KPs, the prevalence of PD was 9.7%. The major dependants of PD include being a PWID with PD prevalence of 8.5% and AOR of 1.95 (95% CI: 0.60–0.98, p = 0.015), alcohol intake with PD prevalence of 97.7% and AOR of 21.83 (95% CI: 15.13–56.83, p<0.001), and having experienced gender-based violence with PD prevalence of 99.0% and AOR of 25.70(95% CI: 17.10–38.73, p<0.001). All Participants (100%) were given brief intervention, and 1595 of 2159 (73.8%) were referred for further psychological intervention. The services with the highest proportion were psychoeducation (21.20%), followed by coping skills training (17.70%) and motivational enhancement (12.90%). Conclusion The study highlights the critical need for targeted mental health interventions among KPs in Nigeria, primarily focusing on those with a history of substance abuse and gender-based violence. Despite universal brief interventions, the proportion enrolled in further Psychosocial support indicates a need to improve mental health service utilization among the KPs in Nigeria.

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Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 76%

Prevalence and factors associated with psychological distress among key populations in Nigeria

Ochonye,

Emmanuel,

Abang

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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“…Três estudos abordaram a ligação entre fatores socioeconômicos e a ideação suicida 9,13,25 tendo em vista que muitas mulheres demonstraram apreensão por não conseguirem manter a si e a seus dependentes, e relacionaram isso ao desejo de finalizar a própria vida. A exemplo disso, há um relato obtido através de uma pesquisa longitudinal no Quênia, na qual uma profissional do sexo afirmou: "Pensei em comprar veneno; Eu mato a mim e a todos os meus filhos também, com isso a vida acabaria.…”

Section: Ciência Pluralunclassified

“…A exemplo disso, há um relato obtido através de uma pesquisa longitudinal no Quênia, na qual uma profissional do sexo afirmou: "Pensei em comprar veneno; Eu mato a mim e a todos os meus filhos também, com isso a vida acabaria. Agora eu não tenho dinheiro (para comprar veneno) [...], vou perguntar quanto custa o veneno de rato, dou a todos os meus filhos e bebo também e todos morremos à noite (MF 497)" 25 .…”

Section: Ciência Pluralunclassified

“…Outros fatores foram apontados como promotores de comportamentos suicidas em profissionais do sexo, tais como a insatisfação com a vida 9 , risco de contrair HIV 12,25 e se encontrar em situação de rua 13 . Estudos complementares também associaram o medo de adquirir Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis, sobretudo o vírus HIV, à maior propensão à comportamentos suicidas 30,31 .…”

Section: Ciência Pluralunclassified

“…Urge, portanto, que haja um maior foco nos direitos humanos de profissionais do sexo, de modo que sua saúde -tanto física quanto mental -encontre um forte aparato socio governamental que proporcione uma abordagem voltada para a alta vulnerabilidade desse grupo 4 , mas também que investigue a elevada exposição dessas mulheres a fatores de riscos que proporcionam uma maior tendência a comportamentos suicidas. Desse modo, deve-se promover uma maior proteção no ambiente laboral, além de estimular a redução da pobreza e promover uma maior assistência psicológica 25 .…”

Section: Ciência Pluralunclassified

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Prevalência E Fatores De Risco Relacionados a Comportamentos Suicidas Em Profissionais Do Sexo

Almeida,

Alves,

Santana

et al. 2024

REV. CIÊNC. PLURAL

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Introdução: O trabalho sexual consentido é, historicamente, permeado por estigmas, proporcionando a marginalização social de profissionais do sexo e sua maior exposição a fatores de riscos que tendenciam a condutas suicidas. Objetivo: Identificar a prevalência e dos fatores de riscos relacionados a comportamentos suicidas em profissionais do sexo, tendo em vista a vulnerabilidade social desse grupo. Metodologia: Este estudo é uma revisão integrativa de literatura, determinada a partir da seguinte questão de pesquisa: “Qual a prevalência e os fatores de riscos relacionados a comportamentos suicidas entre profissionais do sexo?”. Em seguida, aplicou os subsequentes Descritores em Ciências da Saúde (DECS): “Suicide” e “Sex workers”, que foram combinados com o operador booleano “AND”, nas plataformas National Library of Medicine, Science Direct, Portal de Periódicos da Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Literatura Latino-americana e do Caribe, Scientific Eletronic Library Online, BioMed Central, Business Source Complete e WorldWideScience. Foram selecionados 19 artigos relacionados ao objeto de estudo. Resultados: A prevalência de suicídio em profissionais do sexo foi classificada em três categorias: tentativas de suicídio, com predominância de 31,57% (n=6), ideação suicida com 15,78% (n=3) e o risco de suicídio com 5,26% (n=1). Os riscos de comportamentos suicidas foram associados a diversos fatores, sobretudo a violência (47,36%; n=9), depressão (26,31%; n=5) e a pobreza (15,78%; n=3). Conclusões: Há uma alta prevalência de comportamentos suicidas em profissionais do sexo que está associada a diversos fatores de riscos, verificando a carência de abordagens comunitárias direcionadas à vulnerabilidade social desse grupo.

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Associations of hair cortisol levels with violence, poor mental health, and harmful alcohol and other substance use among female sex workers in Nairobi, Kenya

Panneh,

Ding,

Kabuti

et al. 2024

Discov Ment Health

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Violence, poor mental health, and harmful substance use are commonly experienced by female sex workers (FSWs) in sub-Saharan Africa, all of which are associated with increased HIV susceptibility. We aimed to investigate the associations between violence, poor mental health and harmful alcohol/substance use with hair cortisol concentration (HCC) levels as a potential biological pathway linking the experiences of these stressors and HIV vulnerability. We used the baseline data of the Maisha Fiti study of FSWs in Nairobi, Kenya. Participants reported recent violence, poor mental health, and harmful alcohol/substance use. Hair samples proximal to the scalp were collected to measure cortisol levels determined by ELISA. We analysed the data of 425 HIV-negative respondents who provided at least 2 cm of hair sample. The prevalence of recent violence was 89.3% (physical 54.6%; sexual 49.4%; emotional 77.0% and financial 66.5%), and 29.1% had been arrested due to sex work. 23.7% of participants reported moderate/severe depression, 11.6% moderate/severe anxiety, 13.5% PTSD and 10.8% recent suicidal thoughts and/or attempts. About half of the participants (48.8%) reported recent harmful alcohol and/or other substance use. In multivariable linear regression analyses, both physical and/or sexual violence (adjusted geometric mean ratio (aGMR) = 1.28; 95% CI 1.01–1.62) and harmful alcohol and/or other substance use (aGMR = 1.31; 95% CI 1.03–1.65) were positively and independently associated with increased HCC levels. Findings suggest a role of violence and substance use in elevated HCC levels, which could increase HIV risk due to cortisol-related T cell activation. However, longitudinal and mechanistic studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.

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Mental health challenges and perceived risks among female sex workers in Nairobi, Kenya

Cited by 7 publications

References 51 publications

Prevalence and factors associated with psychological distress among key populations in Nigeria

Prevalence and factors associated with psychological distress among key populations in Nigeria

Prevalência E Fatores De Risco Relacionados a Comportamentos Suicidas Em Profissionais Do Sexo

Associations of hair cortisol levels with violence, poor mental health, and harmful alcohol and other substance use among female sex workers in Nairobi, Kenya

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