Prevalence and characteristics of abuse experiences and depression symptoms among injection drug-using female sex workers in Mexico
Ulibarri, M.D.; Hiller, S.P.; Lozada, R.; Rangel, M.G.; Stockman, J.K.; Silverman, J.G.; Ojeda, V.D.
Journal of Environmental and Public Health 2013: 631479
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 1687-9813 PMID: 23737808 DOI: 10.1155/2013/631479Document Number: 578354
This mixed methods study examined the prevalence and characteristics of physical and sexual abuse and depression symptoms among 624 injection drug-using female sex workers (FSW-IDUs) in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico; a subset of 47 from Tijuana also underwent qualitative interviews. Linear regressions identified correlates of current depression symptoms. In the interviews, FSW-IDUs identified drug use as a method of coping with the trauma they experienced from abuse that occurred before and after age 18 and during the course of sex work. In a multivariate linear regression model, two factors-ever experiencing forced sex and forced sex in the context of sex work-were significantly associated with higher levels of depression symptoms. Our findings suggest the need for integrated mental health and drug abuse services for FSW-IDUs addressing history of trauma as well as for further research on violence revictimization in the context of sex work in Mexico.