scholarly journals Client-perpetrated gender-based violence among female sex workers in post-conflict Gulu district, Northern Uganda: a cross-sectional study

Author(s):  
Simple Ouma ◽  
Rawlance Ndejjo ◽  
Catherine Abbo ◽  
Nazarius Mbona Tumwesigye

Background: Gender-based violence (GBV) among female sex workers (FSWs) negatively affects their mental wellbeing and sexual and reproductive health and rights. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of client-perpetrated GBV among FSWs in post-conflict Gulu district, Northern Uganda. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 FSWs aged 18+ years who were operating in Gulu district. Participants were selected using simple random sampling and interviewed between March and June 2020. Pre-tested semi-structured questionnaires were utilized to collect information on socio-demographic and sex-work-related characteristics, alcohol and illicit drug use, HIV status, and exposure to client-perpetrated GBV. Data were entered into EPI INFO 7 and analyzed using logistic regression with the aid of STATA 14.0. Results: Sixty one percent (61.0%) of the participants reported client-perpetrated GBV. The most common forms of GBV in this population were economic (58.7%) and emotional (52.0%) violence. Meanwhile, sexual violence (21.0%) was the least common form of GBV among the study participants. At multivariate level; street-based sex work (aOR=9.66, 95%CI: 2.78-33.5), mobile sex work (aOR=3.21, 95%CI: 1.83-5.64), HIV-positive status (aOR=1.90, 95%CI: 1.09-3.31), and low monthly income below 50th percentile {<200,000 UGX}(aOR= 2.26, 95% CI: 1.18-4.30) remained independently associated with client-perpetrated GBV. Conclusion: Our findings revealed a high prevalence of client-perpetrated GBV driven by street-based sex work, sex work-related mobility, HIV-positive status, and low income. Therefore, interventions to address client-perpetrated GBV should target FSWs who are street-based, HIV-positive, mobile, and with low income.

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. e046894
Author(s):  
Simple Ouma ◽  
Rawlance Ndejjo ◽  
Catherine Abbo ◽  
Nazarius M Tumwesigye

Study objectiveTo determine the prevalence and associated factors of client-perpetrated gender-based violence among female sex workers in conflict-affected Northern Uganda.Design and settingsWe conducted a cross-sectional study among female sex workers in Gulu district in conflict-affected Northern Uganda.ParticipantsThe study participants included 300 female sex workers aged 18+ years. The participants were selected using simple random sampling from a database of female sex workers maintained at a national non-governmental organisation in Gulu.Outcome measureThe outcome measure was self-reported exposure to client-perpetrated gender-based violence.MethodsWe used a pretested semistructured questionnaire to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics, sex work-related characteristics, alcohol use, illicit drug use, HIV status and self-reported exposure to client-perpetrated gender-based violence. Then, data were entered into Epi Info V.7 and analysed using Stata V.14.0.ResultsAmong participants, 61.0% reported client-perpetrated gender-based violence. Economic (58.7%) and emotional (52.0%) violence were the most common forms of client-perpetrated gender-based violence in this population. Independently, being: street-based (adjusted OR=9.66, 95% CI 2.78 to 33.5), mobile (adjusted OR=3.21, 95% CI 1.83 to 5.64), HIV-positive (adjusted OR=1.90, 95% CI 1.09 to 3.31) and a low-income earner (<USh200 000 monthly) (adjusted OR=2.26, 95% CI 1.18 to 4.30) were positively associated with exposure to client-perpetrated gender-based violence.ConclusionsThere is a high prevalence of client-perpetrated gender-based violence among female sex workers in conflict-affected Northern Uganda. Furthermore, female sex workers who were street-based, mobile, HIV-positive and low-income earners were more likely to experience client-perpetrated gender-based violence. The ministry of health and the development partners need to provide targeted public health interventions to prevent and manage the rampant gender-based violence among this underserved population.


BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. e022621 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoé Mistrale Hendrickson ◽  
Anna M Leddy ◽  
Noya Galai ◽  
Jessie K Mbwambo ◽  
Samuel Likindikoki ◽  
...  

ObjectivesTo examine how work-related mobility among female sex workers (FSWs) is associated with gender-based violence (GBV) in Iringa, Tanzania.DesignCross-sectional analyses were conducted on baseline data gathered between October 2015 and April 2016 from FSWs participating in Project Shikamana, a community empowerment-based combination HIV prevention intervention.SettingParticipants were recruited for the baseline study using venue-based time-location sampling in two communities in Iringa, Tanzania.ParticipantsFSWs were eligible for participation if they were 18 years or older and had exchanged sex for money within the past month. Four-hundred ninety-six FSWs participated in the baseline survey.Primary and secondary outcome measuresAny recent experience of GBV was examined by recent work-related mobility among FSWs. Any recent experience of GBV was also disaggregated by severity for analyses. All bivariate and multivariate binary and multinomial logistic regressions adjusted for intraclass correlations among women recruited from the same venues.ResultsForty per cent of participants experienced recent physical or sexual violence, and 30% recently experienced severe physical or sexual violence. Thirty-three per cent of participants recently exchanged sex for money outside of their district or region, and 12% were both intraregionally and inter-regionally mobile for sex work. Intraregionally and inter-regionally mobile FSWs had 1.9 times greater odds of reporting recent GBV (adjusted OR: 1.89; 95% CI: 1.06 to 3.38; p=0.031) compared with non-mobile FSWs and a 2.5 times higher relative risk for recent experience of severe GBV relative to no recent GBV (relative risk ratio: 2.51; 95% CI: 1.33 to 4.74; p=0.005).ConclusionsMobility for sex work may increase FSWs’ exposure to GBV, particularly more severe GBV. The vulnerability of mobile FSWs to violence, particularly severe forms, demands inclusive services that are accessible to mobile FSWs.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ouma Simple ◽  
Nazarius Mbona Tumwesigye ◽  
Rawlance Ndejjo ◽  
Catherine Abbo

Abstract Background: Depression is the world’s leading cause of disability and a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease. Female sex workers operating in conflict-affected settings could be more prone to depression, yet the prevalence and factors associated with depression among this special population remain inadequately addressed. This study thus aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with major depression among female sex workers in post-conflict Gulu district. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 randomly selected female sex workers in Gulu district between March and June 2020. Possible factors associated with depression were assessed using pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire and participants assessed for major depression using Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) version 7.0.0. We utilized STATA 14.0 for univariate, bivariate and multivariate data analyses.Results: The mean age of study participants was 26.4 years (SD = 6), 57.7% attained primary education, 51.7% never married and 42.1% were living with HIV. Almost half (47.7%) of the participants had major depression, of whom half (50.4%) had severe depression and one-thirds (34.3%) had suicidal ideation. At multivariate level, factors that showed positive association with major depression were: psychological stressor (aOR = 11.0, 95%CI: 5.77-20.86), living with HIV (aOR= 2.32, 95%CI: 1.29-4.15), being verbally abused (aOR = 2.27, 95%CI: 1.26-4.07), and being 30+ years of age (aOR = 1.95, 95%CI: 1.05-3.61). Meanwhile, factors that showed negative association with major depression were: providing sexual services at client’s place (aOR=0.46, 95%CI: 0.24-0.91), using modern family planning method (aOR=0.47, 95%CI: 0.25-0.87), and daily intake of alcohol (aOR=0.50, 95%CI: 0.28-0.88).Conclusion: The findings underscore the high prevalence of major depression among female sex workers driven by psychological stress, living with HIV/AIDs, being verbally abused by clients and being 30+years of age. The high prevalence of major depression has important public health ramifications at individual and societal levels and requires urgent attention of all stakeholders.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simple Ouma ◽  
Nazarius Mbona Tumwesigye ◽  
Rawlance Ndejjo ◽  
Catherine Abbo

Abstract Background Female sex workers operating in conflict-affected settings could be at a much greater risk of major depression. However, the epidemiology of major depression in this population remains understudied. We aimed to determine the prevalence and the factors associated with major depression among FSWs in the post-conflict Gulu district in Northern Uganda. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study among 300 randomly selected adult female sex workers in Gulu. We utilized a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire, embedded with MINI 7.0.0, to gather information from each participant through face-to-face interviews. We collected data on socio-demographic characteristics, sex-work-related characteristics, alcohol and drug use, HIV status, and major depression. Then, data were entered into EPI INFO 7 and analyzed using logistic regression with the aid of STATA 14.0. Results The mean age (SD) of the study participants was 26.4 (± 6) years, 57.7% attained primary education, 51.7% never married, and 42.1% were living with HIV. The prevalence of major depression among FSWs in the district was 47.7%. In addition, the majority of the FSWs with major depression (91.0%) had either severe (50.4%) or moderate (40.6%) depressive symptoms. Independently, life stress (adjusted OR = 10.8, 95%CI: 5.67–20.57), living with HIV (adjusted OR = 2.25, 95%CI: 1.25–4.05), verbal abuse (adjusted OR = 2.27, 95%CI: 1.27–4.08), and older age (adjusted OR = 1.06, 95%CI: 1.01–1.12) all showed positive associations with major depression. Conversely, provision of sexual services from clients’ homes (adjusted OR = 0.50, 95%CI: 0.25–0.97), use of a non-barrier modern family planning method (adjusted OR = 0.44, 95%CI: 0.24–0.82), and daily intake of alcohol (adjusted OR = 0.50, 95%CI: 0.28–0.88) all showed negative associations with major depression. Conclusions There is a high prevalence of major depression among female sex workers in post-conflict Gulu. The high prevalence of major depression underscores the need for government and development partners to urgently and adequately address the mental health needs of female sex workers.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. e029088
Author(s):  
Zacharie Ndizeye ◽  
Sonia Menon ◽  
Jean-Pierre Van Geertruyden ◽  
Catherine Sauvaget ◽  
Y Jacquemyn ◽  
...  

ObjectiveNew rapid and low-cost molecular tests for cervical cancer screening, such as the OncoE6 Cervical Test, are emerging and could be alternatives for low-income and middle-income countries. To this end, we evaluated the clinical performance of the OncoE6 Cervical Test in detecting cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) among HIV-infected women in Bujumbura, Burundi.MethodsFrom June to December 2017, a cross-sectional study was conducted in 680 HIV-positive women at the University Hospital. Women aged 25–65 years who declared having had vaginal intercourse were consecutively recruited, and cervical specimens for OncoE6, liquid-based cytology and human papillomavirus (HPV) genotyping were obtained and visual inspection with acetic acid performed. Thereafter, participants underwent a colposcopic examination. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the different tests were calculated with reference to ‘colposcopic-histological’ diagnoses, and areas under the receiver operating curves of OncoE6 and cytology tests were compared.ResultsThe prevalence of CIN was 4.9%, and OncoE6 positivity was 3.1%. OncoE6 sensitivity varied from poor to low with increasing disease severity (42.1%, 95% CI 19.9% to 64.3% at CIN2+ threshold; and 58.3%, 95% CI 30.4% to 86.2% at CIN3+ threshold). OncoE6 had the highest specificity compared with all other tests used together. The performance of the OncoE6 test was significantly lower compared with cytology at atypical squamous cell of undetermined significance (ASCUS+) cut-off (AUC=0.68 vs 0.85, p=0.03) and low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL+) cut-off (AUC=0.68 vs 0.83, p=0.04) for CIN2+ diagnoses. However, the performance of the OncoE6 test was similar to that of cytology at high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL+) cut-off (AUC=0.68 vs 0.76; p=0.30) for CIN2+ diagnoses and was also similar to that of cytology at all cut-offs (ASCUS+, LSIL+ and HSIL+) for CIN3+ diagnoses (p1=0.76, p2=0.95 and p3=0.50, respectively).ConclusionThe current OncoE6 test proved to be a point-of-care test. However, given its poor performance for CIN2+ diagnoses, we do not recommend it for primary screening. We recommend to enrich it with more oncogenic HPV types, which may improve the performance of the test akin to that of cytology.


2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-10
Author(s):  
Olayinka Stephen Ilesanmi ◽  
Bridget Omotoso ◽  
Darlington Falana

Introduction: Hospital cleaning job is outsourced to companies that employ unskilled cleaners. Despite the importance of hospital cleaners little attention is paid to the work place hazards they are exposed to.Objective: This study therefore aimed at determining the prevalence of and factors associated with occurrence of work related hazards among hospital cleaners at Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria.Methods: A cross-sectional study of 249 hospital cleaning staff was conducted. A semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaires were used to obtain information on sociodemographic characteristics and work place related hazards. Descriptive statistics were done and associations were explored with the chi square test at 5% level of significance.Result: The mean age of respondent was 34 ± 7 years, (range 20 - 60 years), 142(57.0%) attended secondary school. In all, 67.7% of the cleaners spent less than 8 hours at work daily. Chemical hazards affected 79.1% females compared to 57.9% of the males (p=0.03). Also, 60% of those with primary education had mechanical hazards compared to 39.1% of those with tertiary education. (p=0.02). Mechanical hazards occur in 53.8% cleaners sitting for < 5hours compared to 38.1% sitting ≥ 5hours at work daily (p=0.03). Hazards of greatest concern were dust 13.3%, and insect bite 4.8%. Respondents were exposed to physical, chemical, mechanical, and biological hazards. Low income was a major source of concern to 80% of them.Conclusion: Various forms of hazards were reported by the cleaners studied. Research examining ways to reduce it should be done.  DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijosh.v4i1.10083 


2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110014
Author(s):  
Oluwadamilola A. Adejumo ◽  
Lorretta Ntoimo ◽  
Michael S. Odimayo ◽  
Wasiu O. Adebimpe ◽  
Benedette Okiei ◽  
...  

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a reproductive health issue prevalent among persons in conflict and post-conflict situations, but is largely under-reported in Nigeria. Although GBV affects both sexes, the prevalence is higher in women as compared to men. The objective of this study was to assess the experiences of female internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria during conflict and post-conflict situations. The study was conducted among IDPs in Edo State, south-south region of Nigeria. Data were collected with a semi-structured questionnaire administered on 300 female IDPs. Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted. GBV perpetrated by non-family members during conflict was experienced by 22.2% of the respondents while 13.5% experienced post-conflict violence. Up to 12.2% reported violence by intimate partners. Physical violence was commonly experienced during conflict, while sexual violence was most common post-conflict. Logistic regression analysis showed that the vulnerable categories of women were adolescents, unmarried women, women of Hausa origin, women who never attended school, and those whose displacement took place in the year prior to the study. The IDP camp appeared to offer some protection against GBV as those who had stayed in the camp longer were less likely to experience post-conflict GBV. The lack of implementation of effective laws and regulations that prevent violence against women and punish perpetuators in the country, and the ineffective security systems are some of the factors that sustain GBV. The results of this study have implications for the design of programs for the prevention of GBV during conflict and post-conflict situations.


2007 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 486-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asma Bokhari ◽  
Naseer M Nizamani ◽  
Denis J Jackson ◽  
Naghma E Rehan ◽  
Motiur Rahman ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to measure HIV prevalence and risk behaviour in injecting drug users (IDUs), male sex workers (MSWs), Hijras (transgenders), female sex workers (FSWs) and male truckers in Karachi and Lahore, Pakistan. The design was a linked-anonymous cross-sectional study of individuals identified at key venues or through peer referral. Approximately 400 respondents in each group (200 for Hijras) responded to a standardized questionnaire and were tested for HIV antibodies at each site. In Karachi, 23% of IDUs and 4% of MSWs were HIV positive, and HIV-positive individuals were identified in all risk groups in at least one city. Two-thirds of all IDUs used a shared needle in the previous week, and unprotected commercial sex activity with men and women was high. The HIV epidemic has entered IDU and male and female commercial sex networks in Karachi and Lahore. Targeted intervention services must be scaled up and risk group surveillance intensified.


Author(s):  
Geeta V. Bathija ◽  
Madhavi Gajula

Background: Prostitution is linked with many socio-demographic disadvantages like minority status, low income and education level, frequent harassment by family and police and social stigma.Methods: It’s a cross-sectional study, done among female commercial sex workers. A sample of 100 women was chosen conveniently, for a study period of 2 months i.e. May and June 2015. The women were one-one interviewed in depth by a semi-structured questionnaire, finalized after Pilot testing. The data was entered into MS Excel, analysed using SPSS v 20.0 and data was presented as means and percentages.Results: 48% of the study sample belonged to the age group of 30-39. 50% of the study samples were involved in home based sex trade, 6% in brothel and 8% in public streets. All of them reported some sort of STI symptom, 39% reported burning micturition, itching and genital sores and 28% reported excessive white discharge. Regarding violence and harassment, 65% faced domestic violence at home, 37% experienced sexual violence like beatings, burning of private parts and forcible sex without payment. 31% had experienced harassment by unnatural sex.Conclusions: Poverty was cited as the most common reason for getting into this trade with half of their families being unaware of it and for a very meagre pay. Removal of social stigma can help in rehabilitating these women back into the society. 


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dalal Youssef ◽  
Janet Youssef ◽  
Linda Abou-Abass ◽  
Hussein Mouaiwa ◽  
Malak Kawtharani ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Burnout among physicians is a serious concern that cultivates its seeds during their education and matures in their daily practicing life. Lebanese physicians were particularly at high risk of burnout since they confronted a mixture of overlapping crises. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of burnout among Lebanese physicians, to investigate its associated factors and to explore the combined effects of the pandemic and the economic crisis on burnout. Methods: A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted among Lebanese physicians over December 2020 using a snowball sampling technique. Self-reported data were collected electronically through an anonymous questionnaire that included information on socio-demographic characteristics, work-related variables, and 4 scales: fear of COVID-19, threat perception, InCharge Financial Distress/Financial Well-Being, and the Copenhagen burnout inventory (CBI). CBI scale cut-off score of 50 was used to evaluate the prevalence of burnout. Multivariable linear regression analyses were carried out to identify the factors associated with burnout. Results: A total of 398 physicians participated in the study. The majority of them were male (52.8%), married (60.1%), and aged between 40 and 49 years (43.2%). Burnout hits 90.7% of the Lebanese physicians where personal, work-related, and client-related burnout were detected among 80.4%, 75.63%, and 69.6% of them respectively. A strong association was found between the higher level of burnout and female gender, younger age, being single, having a dependent child, living with an elderly or having a family member with comorbidities, and insufficient sleeping hours. Physicians’ specialties, working in a public health facility, limited years of professional experience, lack of previous experience in pandemic and extensive working hours were also associated with increased burnout. Furthermore, low income, working in the frontline, higher threat perception, and fear of COVID-19 were contributing to higher burnout. However, financial wellbeing, altruism, having good health, and previous history of COVID-19 were significantly associated to lower burnout. The combined effect of threat perception and financial hardship significantly increased the level of burnout. Conclusion: The huge burnout level among Lebanese physicians raises alarm about the seriousness of the current situation and urges the health authorities to take prompt action to enhance the physicians’ wellbeing.


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