Structural Determinants of Client Perpetrated Violence among Female Sex Workers in Two Mexico-U.S. Border Cities

Female sex workers (FSWs) are disproportionately affected by both HIV and gender-based violence, such as that perpetrated by clients (CPV). We used a structural determinants framework to assess correlates of physical or sexual CPV in the past 6 months among FSWs in the Mexico/U.S. border cities of Ciudad Juárez and Tijuana. 

Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis identified individual, client, interpersonal, work environment and macrostructural factors associated with recent CPV. Among 496 FSWs, 5 % experienced recent CPV. Witnessing violence towards other FSWs in one's neighborhood, having a majority of foreign or substance using clients, and being a street worker were independently associated with recent CPV. 

Our findings underscore the vulnerability of FSWs and the need to design policies and interventions addressing macro-level influences on CPV rather than exclusively targeting individual behaviors.

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By: Conners EE1, Silverman JG, Ulibarri M, Magis-Rodriguez C, Strathdee SA, Staines-Orozco H, Patterson TL, Brouwer KC.

• 1Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC-0507, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92093-0507, USA. 

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