Violence against Chinese female sex workers from their stable partners: A hierarchical multiple regression analysis

Background: The global literature documents a high prevalence and negative consequences of intimate partner violence (IPV) against female sex workers (FSW) from both their clients and stable partners. However, limited data are available regarding risk factors that are related to IPV in the context of stable partnership. Method: A sample of 1,022 FSW was recruited through community outreach from nine different types of commercial sex establishments in two cities of southwest China. The participants completed a self-administered cross-sectional survey containing measures of IPV, characteristics of stable partners as well as relationship stressors related to stable partnership. Results: Among 743 FSW who reported a stable partnership, more than half reported ever experiencing IPV from stable partners with one fifth experiencing physical IPV, one half experiencing emotional IPV, and 16.2% experiencing sexual IPV. Hierarchical multivariate regression revealed that some characteristics of stable partners (e.g., low education, alcohol use) and relationship stressors (e.g., frequent frictions, concurrent partnership) were independently predictive of IPV against FSW after controlling confounders. Conclusion: IPV against FSW from their stable partners are related to demographic, behavioral and relationship characteristics of these stable partners. Future violence prevention intervention efforts among FSW with a stable partnership need to consider the influence of their stable partners and identify those FSW who are at high risks of IPV.