Citation

Panchanadeswaran S, Johnson SC, Sivaram S, Srikrishnan AK, Zelaya C, Solomon S, Go VF, Celentano D. J. Health Popul. Nutr. 2010; 28(3): 211-220.

Affiliation

Adelphi University School of Social Work, I South Avenue, Garden City, New York, NY 11530, USA. panchanadeswara@adelphi.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh; Centre for Health and Population Research)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

20635631

PMCID

PMC2980885

Abstract

This descriptive study presents the profiles of abused female sex workers (FSWs) in Chennai, India. Of 100 abused FSWs surveyed using a structured questionnaire, severe forms of violence by intimate partners were reported by most (98%) respondents. Of the total sample, 76% experienced violence by clients. Sexual coercion experiences of the FSWs included verbal threats (77%) and physical force (87%) by intimate partners and forced unwanted sexual acts (73%) by clients. While 39% of the women consumed alcohol before meeting a client, 26% reported that their drunkenness was a trigger for violence by clients. The findings suggest that there is an urgent need to integrate services, along with public-health interventions among FSWs to protect them from violence. Recognition of multiple identities of women in the contexts of intimate relationships versus sex work is vital in helping women to stay safe from adverse effects on health.

Language: en