Sex trade among young women attending family-planning clinics in Northern California

• Published in: International journal of gynecology and obstetrics 2012-05, Vol.117 (2), p.173-177
• Main Authors: Decker, Michele R, Miller, Elizabeth, McCauley, Heather L, Tancredi, Daniel J, Levenson, Rebecca R, Waldman, Jeffrey, Schoenwald, Phyllis, Silverman, Jay G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abortion, Induced - statistics & numerical data; Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Ambulatory Care Facilities - statistics & numerical data; Biological and medical sciences; California - epidemiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data Collection; Epidemiology. Vaccinations; Female; General aspects; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Unplanned; Reproductive health; Reproductive Health - statistics & numerical data; Sex trade; Sex Work - statistics & numerical data; Sexual Behavior - statistics & numerical data; Sexual risk; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - epidemiology; STI/HIV; Unintended pregnancy; Unsafe Sex - statistics & numerical data; Violence; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0020-7292; 1879-3479
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2011.12.019

Abstract Objective To describe the prevalence and nature of sex trade in a clinic-based sample of young women and to evaluate associations with sexual and reproductive health. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted with women aged 16–29 years (n = 1277) presenting to family-planning clinics in Northern California, USA. Results Overall, 8.1% of respondents indicated a lifetime history of trading sex for money or other resources. Sex trade was associated with unintended pregnancy (adjusted risk ratio [ARR] 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09–1.48), multiple abortions (ARR 1.63; 95% CI, 1.19–2.23), STI diagnosis (ARR 1.46; 95% CI, 1.27–1.68), and unwanted sex (vaginal ARR 3.64; 95% CI, 2.39–5.56; anal ARR 4.99; 95% CI, 2.17–11.50). Of the women ever involved in sex trade, 12 (37.3%) reported that their first such experience was before they were 18 years of age. Conclusion Approximately 1 in 12 participants had been involved in sex trade, illustrating the presence of patients with this history within the family-planning clinical setting. Sex trade was associated with multiple indicators of poor sexual and reproductive health. Family-planning clinics may represent an underused mechanism for engaging this high-risk population.