Violence experienced across personal and work related contexts among female sex workers in andhra pradesh, India: Relation to sexual risk for HIV

Reed, Elizabeth Ann

Saturday, March 21, 2015: 9:50 AM-11:10 AM

Mount Vernon Square A (Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel)

Speaker:
Elizabeth Ann Reed, ScD, MPH, University of California San Diego

Authors:
Jennifer Toller Erausquin, PhD, University of North Carolina, Greensboro
Allison K. Groves, PhD, American University
Marissa Salazar, MA, UCSD
Monica Biradavolu, PhD, American University
KIm M. Blankenship, PhD, American University

Presentation Format:
Scientific Program Report

Learning Objectives:

Describe the prevalence of physical and sexual violence as well as the perpetrators of such violence experienced by female sex workers in Andhra Pradesh, India.
Identify the distinct effect of violence experienced in work and personal contexts on women’s HIV risk and risk behaviors.
Discuss how violence in one context (e.g., personal relationships) may influence HIV risk behaviors in other contexts (e.g., in the exchange of sex in work).

Description:
This study aimed: 1) to assess the prevalence of violence among female sex workers (FSW) in Andhra Pradesh, India, and 2) to examine whether violence perpetrated across personal and work contexts each affect HIV risk behaviors with sexual partners within these contexts. Survey data from FSW in Andhra Pradesh, India (n=2335) were analyzed. Findings highlight a high prevalence of violence experienced in work and personal contexts, and these were related to HIV risk behaviors with clients and recent STI symptoms.