OBJECTIVE: To compare distributions of human rights violations and disease risk; to juxtapose these patterns against demographic and structural environmental variables, and to formulate implications for structural interventions. METHODS: Female sex workers who inject drugs were surveyed in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Structured interviews and testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were conducted (October 2008 to October 2009). Frequencies of individual and environmental factors, including police abuse, risk of HIV infection, and protective behaviors, were compared between sites using univariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Of 624 women, almost half reported police syringe confiscation despite syringes being legal; 55.6% reported extortion (past 6 months), with significantly higher proportions in Ciudad Juarez (P < 0.001). Reports of recent solicitation of sexual favors (28.5% in Tijuana, 36.5% in Ciudad Juarez, P = 0.04) and sexual abuse (15.7% in Tijuana, 18.3% in Ciudad Juarez) by police were commonplace. Prevalence of STIs was significantly lower in Tijuana than in Ciudad Juarez (64.2% and 83.4%, P < 0.001), paralleling the lower prevalence of sexual risk behaviors there. Ciudad Juarez respondents reported significantly higher median number of monthly clients (6.8 versus 1.5, P < 0.001) and lower median pay per sex act (US$ 10 versus US$ 20, P < 0.001) (in the past month). Relative to Tijuana, security deployment, especially the army's presence, was perceived to have increased more in Ciudad Juarez in the past year (72.1% versus 59.2%, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Collateral damage from police practices in the context of Mexico's drug conflict may affect public health in the Northern Border Region. Itinerant officers may facilitate disease spread beyond the region. The urgency for mounting structural interventions is discussed.
OBJECTIVE: To compare distributions of human rights violations and disease risk; to juxtapose these patterns against demographic and structural environmental variables, and to formulate implications for structural interventions. METHODS: Female sex workers who inject drugs were surveyed in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Structured interviews and testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were conducted (October 2008 to October 2009). Frequencies of individual and environmental factors, including police abuse, risk of HIV infection, and protective behaviors, were compared between sites using univariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Of 624 women, almost half reported police syringe confiscation despite syringes being legal; 55.6% reported extortion (past 6 months), with significantly higher proportions in Ciudad Juarez (P < 0.001). Reports of recent solicitation of sexual favors (28.5% in Tijuana, 36.5% in Ciudad Juarez, P = 0.04) and sexual abuse (15.7% in Tijuana, 18.3% in Ciudad Juarez) by police were commonplace. Prevalence of STIs was significantly lower in Tijuana than in Ciudad Juarez (64.2% and 83.4%, P < 0.001), paralleling the lower prevalence of sexual risk behaviors there. Ciudad Juarez respondents reported significantly higher median number of monthly clients (6.8 versus 1.5, P < 0.001) and lower median pay per sex act (US$ 10 versus US$ 20, P < 0.001) (in the past month). Relative to Tijuana, security deployment, especially the army's presence, was perceived to have increased more in Ciudad Juarez in the past year (72.1% versus 59.2%, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Collateral damage from police practices in the context of Mexico's drug conflict may affect public health in the Northern Border Region. Itinerant officers may facilitate disease spread beyond the region. The urgency for mounting structural interventions is discussed.
Authors: Tim Rhodes; Merrill Singer; Philippe Bourgois; Samuel R Friedman; Steffanie A Strathdee Journal: Soc Sci Med Date: 2005-03-19 Impact factor: 4.634
Authors: Steffanie A Strathdee; Erin P Ricketts; Steven Huettner; Lee Cornelius; David Bishai; Jennifer R Havens; Peter Beilenson; Charles Rapp; Jacqueline J Lloyd; Carl A Latkin Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2005-12-20 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Susan A Bartels; Jennifer A Scott; Denis Mukwege; Robert I Lipton; Michael J Vanrooyen; Jennifer Leaning Journal: Confl Health Date: 2010-05-05 Impact factor: 2.723
Authors: Robin A Pollini; Remedios Lozada; Manuel Gallardo; Perth Rosen; Alicia Vera; Armando Macias; Lawrence A Palinkas; Steffanie A Strathdee Journal: AIDS Behav Date: 2010-06
Authors: Robin A Pollini; Jorge Alvelais; Manuel Gallardo; Alicia Vera; Remedios Lozada; Carlos Magis-Rodriquez; Steffanie A Strathdee Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2009-04-21 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Steffanie A Strathdee; Remedios Lozada; Robin A Pollini; Kimberly C Brouwer; Andrea Mantsios; Daniela A Abramovitz; Tim Rhodes; Carl A Latkin; Oralia Loza; Jorge Alvelais; Carlos Magis-Rodriguez; Thomas L Patterson Journal: J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Date: 2008-03-01 Impact factor: 3.731
Authors: Angela M Robertson; Jennifer L Syvertsen; Hortensia Amaro; Gustavo Martinez; M Gudelia Rangel; Thomas L Patterson; Steffanie A Strathdee Journal: J Sex Res Date: 2013-05-09
Authors: Shira M Goldenberg; Jill Chettiar; Paul Nguyen; Sabina Dobrer; Julio Montaner; Kate Shannon Journal: J Urban Health Date: 2014-08 Impact factor: 3.671
Authors: Teresita Rocha-Jiménez; Kimberly C Brouwer; Jay G Silverman; Sonia Morales-Miranda; Shira M Goldenberg Journal: J Immigr Minor Health Date: 2017-10
Authors: Karishma K Oza; Jay G Silverman; Ietza Bojorquez; Steffanie A Strathdee; Shira M Goldenberg Journal: Int J Gynaecol Obstet Date: 2014-10-13 Impact factor: 3.561
Authors: Tommi L Gaines; Melanie L A Rusch; Kimberly C Brouwer; Shira M Goldenberg; Remedios Lozada; Angela M Robertson; Emily Perkins; Steffanie A Strathdee; Thomas L Patterson Journal: Glob Public Health Date: 2013-03-27
Authors: Sanghyuk S Shin; Patricia Gonzalez Moreno; Smriti Rao; Richard S Garfein; Thomas E Novotny; Steffanie A Strathdee Journal: Nicotine Tob Res Date: 2013-07-19 Impact factor: 4.244