Journal Article

Exploring the Impact of Underage Sex Work Among Female Sex Workers in Two Mexico–US Border Cities

Abramovitz, Daniela, Strathdee, Steffanie A., Rangel, Gudelia, Vera, Alicia, Silverman, Jay G., Patterson, Thomas L., Goldenberg, Shira M., Raj, Anita

2012

Overview

Although sex work and younger age increase HIV vulnerability, empirical data regarding the impacts of underage sex work are lacking. We explored associations between features of the risk environment, sex work, and drug use history, and underage sex work entry among 624 female sex workers (FSWs) in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Forty-one percent (n = 253) of women began sex work as minors, among whom HIV and any STI/HIV prevalence were 5.2 and 60.7%. Factors independently associated with increased odds of underage sex work were inhalants as the first drug used, forced first injection, number of drug treatment attempts, and recent receptive syringe sharing. Number of recent condom negotiation attempts with steady partners and depression as a reason for first injecting were negatively associated with underage entry. These results underscore the importance of efforts to prevent underage sex work and the wider factors contributing to HIV risk among vulnerable youth and underage FSWs.

• Publisher: Springer US,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome / Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - epidemiology / Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - prevention & control / Adolescent / Age / Borders / Child / Chlamydia Infections - epidemiology / Chlamydia Infections - prevention & control / Condoms / Data processing / Depression / Drug Abuse / Drugs / Female / Females / Gonorrhea - epidemiology / Gonorrhea - prevention & control / Health Psychology / Health risks / HIV / Human immunodeficiency virus / Humans / Infectious Diseases / Inhalants / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Mexico / Mexico - epidemiology / Minors - statistics & numerical data / Needle sharing / Needle Sharing - statistics & numerical data / Original Research / Prevalence / Prostitution / Public Health / Risk / Risk Factors / Sex / Sex industry / Sex workers / Sex Workers - statistics & numerical data / Sexually transmitted diseases / STD / Substance abuse treatment / Substance Abuse, Intravenous - epidemiology / Syphilis - epidemiology / Syphilis - prevention & control / Syringes / Teenagers / Underage / United States - epidemiology / Vulnerability / Vulnerable Populations / Women / Work / Work environment / Working women / Young Adult