Mohammad Karamouzian1, Mostafa Shokoohi2, Rachel L Kaplan3, Alireza Noroozi4, Hamid Sharifi5, Stefan D Baral6, Ali Mirzazadeh7. 1. HIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. 2. HIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada. 3. School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA. 4. Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 5. HIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. 6. Department of Epidemiology, Key Populations Program, Center for Public Health and Human Rights, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore. 7. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Institute for Global Health Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Electronic address: ali.mirzazadeh@ucsf.edu.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Given the adverse impacts of enforcement-based approaches toward sex work on female sex workers' (FSWs') health, safety, and well-being, we explored the prevalence and correlates of recent incarceration among FSWs in Iran. METHODS: From January to August 2015, we recruited FSWs from 21 harm reduction facilities and 152 FSWs from street venues in 13 major cities across Iran. Correlates of recent (i.e., last year) incarceration were assessed through an exploratory multivariable logistic regression model. RESULTS: A total of 90 of 1326 (6.8%) FSWs reported a recent incarceration; primary reasons for incarceration were drug-related (n = 48/90; 52.9%). Having a recent incarceration was significantly and positively associated with history of illicit drug use/injection (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 3.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.67, 6.19), rape in last year (aOR = 2.67, 95% CI: 1.65, 4.31), unstable housing (aOR = 2.28, 95% CI: 1.16, 4.91), and working in brothels (aOR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.18, 4.16). CONCLUSIONS: In sum, recent incarceration was significantly associated with history of drug use and sociostructural vulnerabilities. Taken together, these data suggest the potential health impacts of the integration of programs to mitigate substance use, sexual violence, and living conditions into comprehensive services for FSWs in Iran.
PURPOSE: Given the adverse impacts of enforcement-based approaches toward sex work on female sex workers' (FSWs') health, safety, and well-being, we explored the prevalence and correlates of recent incarceration among FSWs in Iran. METHODS: From January to August 2015, we recruited FSWs from 21 harm reduction facilities and 152 FSWs from street venues in 13 major cities across Iran. Correlates of recent (i.e., last year) incarceration were assessed through an exploratory multivariable logistic regression model. RESULTS: A total of 90 of 1326 (6.8%) FSWs reported a recent incarceration; primary reasons for incarceration were drug-related (n = 48/90; 52.9%). Having a recent incarceration was significantly and positively associated with history of illicit drug use/injection (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 3.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.67, 6.19), rape in last year (aOR = 2.67, 95% CI: 1.65, 4.31), unstable housing (aOR = 2.28, 95% CI: 1.16, 4.91), and working in brothels (aOR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.18, 4.16). CONCLUSIONS: In sum, recent incarceration was significantly associated with history of drug use and sociostructural vulnerabilities. Taken together, these data suggest the potential health impacts of the integration of programs to mitigate substance use, sexual violence, and living conditions into comprehensive services for FSWs in Iran.