Rodríguez EM, Fuentes P, Ramos-Lira L, Gutiérrez R, Ruiz E

Language: Spanish
References: 15
Page: 355-360
PDF size: 232.14 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Objective The aim of this paper is to explore in women sex workers the violence they experience in the exercise of their activity, and if it is associated with alcohol use and the consumption of other substances such as cocaine, mariguana and tobacco.
Method This is a descriptive, non-experimental study, developed with a nonrandom sample of 103 sex workers selected for convenience type field. The selection criteria were being between 18 and 65 years of age, being a sex worker, and literate. An expressly designed instrument consisting of a semi-structured interview was used.
Results Regarding the workplace, 50.8% of them worked in bars, 39.0% on the streets, and 10.2% in cabarets. More than a half reported having suffered violent experiences in the workplace; of these, 95.8% experienced physical violence, 26.0%, sexual violence, and 24.0%, emotional violence. Regarding the actors involved in violent episodes, they were other sex workers (97%), customers (77.2%), owners or employees of bars (30.2%), and police (25.0%). Regarding substance use, 98% of the sex workers reported having consumed alcohol in the past month; 23.3%, cocaine; and 11.7%, marijuana. Likewise, 40% smoked tobacco. Seventy-five percent of the sex workers reported being a high drinker. Most of the women reported that customers generally pressed them in to drinking alcohol and a high percentage reported that they consumed it because of the demands of bar or cabaret managers. The experiences of workplace violence were associated with cocaine use (χ² = 6.417 [100, 1] df p ‹.05) and tobacco (χ² = 7.486 [100.1] gl p ‹.01). This association remained if violence had occurred in the last month. Alcohol consumption was associated with experiences of physical violence (χ² = 5.180 [100.1] gl p ‹.05), and emotional abuse (χ² = 4.514 [100.1] gl p ‹.05).
Discussion The results show that violence is a common experience in the work environment of these women, and that this is carried out by multiple actors. Findings highlight that sex workers point out to other sex workers as those who exercise more violence. High alcohol use and the use of other drugs are associated with this violence, requiring future studies to explore in-depth this link. The findings are discussed, with recommendations for the care of these problems in female sex workers.

REFERENCES

1. ONUSIDA. Nota de orientación del ONUSIDA sobre el VIH y el trabajo sexual. UNAIDS; Ginebra: 2009; p.27.

2. UNAIDS. Technical update on sex work and HIV/AIDS. Ginebra: 2002.

3. Shannon K, Kerr T, Allinott S, Chettiar J et al. Social and structural violence and power relations in mitigating HIV risk of drug-using women in survival sex work. Social Science Medicine 2008;66(4):911-921. Cuadro 2. Experiencias violentas en el trabajo y consumo de sustancias (N =103) Alguna vez Violencia física alguna vez Violencia sexual alguna vez Violencia emocional alguna vez En el último mes No (n=48) Sí (n=52) No (n=55) Sí (n=45) No (n=86) Sí (n=14) No (n=88) Sí (n=12) No (n=59) Sí (n=41) f % f % f % f % f % f % f % f % f % f % Consumo de mariguana 3 6.4 9 17.0 4 7.3 8 17.8 9 10.5 3 21.4 10 11.4 2 16.7 4 6.8 8 19.5 Consumo de cocaína 6 12.8 18 34.6* 11 20 13 29.5 19 22.4 5 35.7 21 23.9 3 27.3 8 13.6 16 40** Consumo de tabaco 13 27.7 29 54.7** 19 34.5 23 51.1 36 41.9 6 42.9 34 38.6 8 66.7 17 28.8 25 61*** Patrón de consumo de alcohol • Alto 34 70.8 44 84.6 39 69.6 39 88.6* 66 76.7 12 85.7 72 81.8 6 50 41 69.5 37 90.2 • Frecuente a leve 14 29.2 8 15.4 17 30.4 5 11.4 20 23.3 2 14.3 16 18.2 6 50* 18 30.5 4 9.8* ***p<.001. ** p<.01. * p<.05. Rodríguez et al. 360 Vol. 37, No. 4, julio-agosto 2014

4. Sanders T, Campbell R. Designing out vulnerability, building in respect: violence, safety and sex work policy. British J Sociology 2007;58(1):1-19.

5. Goodyear MD, Cusick L. Protection of sex workers. BMJ: British Medical J 2007;334: http//dx.doi.org/10.1136/mnj.39087.642801.BE (publicado el 11 de enero de 2007. Consultado el 21 de mayo de 2014).

6. El-Bassel N, Witte SS, Wada T, Gilbert L. Correlates of partner violence among female street-based sex workers: substance abuse, history of childhood abuse, and HIV risks. AIDS Patient Care STDs 2001;15(1):41-51.

7. Ulibarri MD, Strathdee SA, Lozada R, Magis-Rodriguez C et al. Intimate partner violence among female sex workers in two Mexico-US Border cities: Partner characteristics and HIV risk behaviors as correlates of abuse. Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice Policy 2010;2(4):318-325.

8. Surratt HL, Inciardi JA, Kurtz SP, Kiley MC. Sex work and drug use in a subculture of violence. Crime Delinquency 2004;50(1):43-59.

9. Church S, Henderson M, Barnard M, Hart G. Violence by clients towards female prostitutes in different work settings: questionnaire survey. BMJ British Medical J 2001: http//dx.doi.org/10.1136/ bmj.322.7785.524 (publicado el 3 de marzo del 2001. Consultado el 23 de mayo del 2014.

10. Decker MR, Pearson E, Illangasekare SL, Clark E. Violence against women in sex work and HIV risk implications differ qualitatively by perpetrator. BMC Public Health 2013;13: htt//dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471- 2458/13/876

11. Mooney A, Kidanu A, Bradley HM, Kumoji EK. Work-related violence and inconsistent condom use with non-paying partners among female sex workers in Adama City, Ethiopia. BMC Public Health 2013;13(1):1- 10.

12. Kendler KS, Bulik CM, Silberg J, Hettema JM. Childhood sexual abuse and adult psychiatric and substance use disorders in women: an epidemiological and cotwin control analysis. Archives General Psychiatry 2000;57(10):953-959.

13. Del Río FP, Guardiola MM. Abuso sexual en la infancia y la drogodependencia en la edad adulta. Papeles Psicólogo 2013;34(2):144-149.

14. Tolman RM, Rosen D. Domestic violence in the lives of women receiving welfare mental health, substance dependence, and economic well-being. Violence Against Women 2001;7(2):141-158.

15. Devries KM, Child JC, Bacchus LJ, Mak J et al. Intimate partner violence victimization and alcohol consumption in women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Addiction 2014;109(3):379-391.