Shahmanesh, Maryam; Wayal, Sonali; Cowan, Frances; Mabey, David; Copas, Andrew; Patel, Vikram; (2009) Suicidal behavior among female sex workers in Goa, India: the silent epidemic. American journal of public health, 99 (7). pp. 1239-1246. ISSN 0090-0036 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2008.149930
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We sought to study suicidal behavior prevalence and its association with social and gender disadvantage, sex work, and health factors among female sex workers in Goa, India. METHODS: Using respondent-driven sampling, we recruited 326 sex workers in Goa for an interviewer-administered questionnaire regarding self-harming behaviors, sociodemographics, sex work, gender disadvantage, and health. Participants were tested for sexually transmitted infections. We used multivariate analysis to define suicide attempt determinants. RESULTS: Nineteen percent of sex workers in the sample reported attempted suicide in the past 3 months. Attempts were independently associated with intimate partner violence (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.70; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.38, 5.28), violence from others (AOR = 2.26; 95% CI = 1.15, 4.45), entrapment (AOR = 2.76; 95% CI = 1.11, 6.83), regular customers (AOR = 3.20; 95% CI = 1.61, 6.35), and worsening mental health (AOR = 1.05; 95% CI = 1.01, 1.11). Lower suicide attempt likelihood was associated with Kannad ethnicity, HIV prevention services, and having a child. CONCLUSIONS: Suicidal behaviors among sex workers were common and associated with gender disadvantage and poor mental health. India's widespread HIV-prevention programs for sex workers provide an opportunity for community-based interventions against gender-based violence and for mental health services delivery.
Item Type | Article |
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Keywords | Adolescent, Adult, Female, HIV Infections, complications, epidemiology, prevention & control, Humans, India, epidemiology, Logistic Models, Mental Disorders, epidemiology, Prevalence, Prostitution, Questionnaires, Risk Factors, Suicide, Attempted, psychology, statistics & numerical data, Violence, statistics & numerical data |
Faculty and Department |
Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases > Dept of Clinical Research Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health > Dept of Population Health (2012- ) |
Research Centre |
Centre for Maternal, Reproductive and Child Health (MARCH) Centre for Global Mental Health |
PubMed ID | 19443819 |
ISI | 267406100021 |
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Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0
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