Occupational safety and HIV risk among female sex workers in China: A mixed-methods analysis of sex-work harms and mommies

Abstract

Female sex workers (FSWs) in China are exposed to multiple work-related harms that increase HIV vulnerability. Using mixed-methods, we explored the social-ecological aspects of sexual risk among 348 FSWs in Beijing. Sex-work harms were assessed by property stolen, being underpaid or not paid at all, verbal and sexual abuse, forced drinking; and forced sex more than once. The majority (90%) reported at least one type of harm, 38% received harm protection from ‘mommies' (i.e., managers) and 32% reported unprotected sex with clients. In multivariate models, unprotected sex was significantly associated with longer involvement in sex work, greater exposure to harms, and no protection from mommies. Mommies' protection moderated the effect of sex-work harms on unprotected sex with clients. Our ethnography indicated that mommies played a core role in sex-work networks. Such networks provide a basis for social capital; they are not only profitable economically, but also protect FSWs from sex-work harms. Effective HIV prevention interventions for FSWs in China must address the occupational safety and health of FSWs by facilitating social capital and protection agency (e.g., mommies) in the sex-work industry.

Keywords:

• female sex workers
• sex-work harms
• social ecology
• China
• social capital

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the participants in this research for their time, staff members and peer outreach volunteers, Fang Xuefei, Wang Hui, Chen Ying and Zhang Zhiqiang, at the Aizhixing Institute of Health who worked to enhance the well-being of underserved populations and the managers of sex-work venues who helped us to conduct the interviews. This research was funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The contents of this study do not necessarily represent the official opinions and views of UNFPA. We especially thank Ms. Kumiko Yoshida and Mr. Jianzhong Chen, AIDS Project Coordinators, UNFPA China office, for providing valuable suggestions as well as monitoring and evaluating this project. The authors also thank Prof. Roger Vaughan at the Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, for his advice on data analysis. This research was also supported by a training grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (T32 MH19139, Behavioral Sciences Research in HIV Infection; Principal Investigator: Anke A. Ehrhardt, Ph.D.).