142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Home Events & Meetings Annual Meeting Schedule & Program

Online Program

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

298517
Exploring relationship between female sex workers and gatekeepers in China

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Chen Zhang, MPH , Institute of Global Health, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
Xiaoming Li, PhD , Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Prevention Research Center, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
Shaobing Su, Med , Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Prevention Research Center, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
Liying Zhang, PhD , Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Prevention Research Center, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
Shan Qiao, PhD , Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Prevention Research Center, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
Background: Global literature suggests that gatekeepers exert enormous influences on lives of female sex workers (FSW). However, virtually no available studies have examined the FSW-gatekeeper relationship (“F-G relationship”) and its impact on FSW’s mental health.

Method: The current study was conducted in 2008–2009 in two cities of southwest China. A total of 1,022 FSW were recruited through community outreach from nine different types of commercial sex establishments. Both bivariate and multivariate analyses were employed to depict the association between F-G relationship and measures of FSW’s mental health.

Results: Findings of the current study revealed that FSW with a close relationship with their gatekeepers reported a better mental health status. After adjusting for demographics and potential confounders of mental health, F-G relationship was positively associated with hopefulness (β =0.09, 95%CI=0.01, 0.16), but negatively associated with perceived stigma (β =-0.25, 95%CI=-0.44, -0.07), suicidal intention or attempt (aOR=0.90, 95%CI=0.83, 0.99), and loneliness (β =-0.29, 95%CI=-0.47,-0.12).

Conclusion: F-G relationship is an independent predictor of mental health of FSW over and above potential confounders including partner violence and substance use. Future health promotion programs targeting FSW need to recognize the role of gatekeepers in the life of FSW and engage them in a socially and legally acceptable way in safeguarding or improving mental health status of FSW in China.

Learning Areas:

Occupational health and safety
Program planning
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Evaluate relationship between female sex workers and their gate-keepers Discuss effective HIV intervention strategies for FSW by targeting their gatekeepers Identify the key role of gatekeepers in the life context of FSW

Keyword(s): Mental Health, HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified as I have been working as a postdoc for this project for more than three years. I have experience in the areas of international health, behavior intervention and health education, project monitoring and evaluatio and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, as well as expertise in development and implementation of interventions and both qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4171.0: International/Global Health Student Projects & Maternal/Child Health Student Projects Roundtable