AI Article Synopsis
- The study examines the mental health of female sex workers in Eswatini, focusing on the impact of starting to sell sex as minors.
- It found that 43.1% of participants showed signs of depression, with a significantly higher prevalence (55.5%) among those who began selling sex before age 18 compared to those who started as adults (40.7%).
- The findings suggest a critical need for supportive mental health services tailored to young sex workers in low-stigma environments.
Article Abstract
Background: Minors who sell sex are likely to have complex mental health needs that may persist into adulthood. This topic is understudied in sub-Saharan Africa. This study hypothesized that adult female sex workers in Eswatini who started selling sex as minors have a higher prevalence of depression than those who started as adults. We also examined correlates of depression and underage initiation of selling sex, including stigma and condom-related behaviors.
Methods: From October-December 2014, women aged 18 or older who sold sex in the past 12 months in Eswatini were recruited through venue-based sampling. Participants completed a survey including the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and a question about the age at which they first sold sex for money. -tests, tests and multivariable logistic regression were used to assess associations.
Results: Overall, 43.1% of participants (332/770) had probable depression, and 16.6% (128/770) started selling sex as minors under the age of 18. Over half (55.5%, 71/128) of those who started selling sex as minors had depression. This was significantly higher than the 40.7% (261/642) prevalence of depression among participants who started selling sex as adults ( = 0.002). After adjusting for confounders, female sex workers who started selling sex as minors had higher odds of depression than those who started as adults (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.70, 95% confidence interval 1.11-2.60).
Conclusion: Results highlight the need for trauma-informed and adolescent-friendly mental health services in settings free of stigma toward female sex workers in Eswatini.
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| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10331471 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1048703 | DOI Listing |
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