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Child sexual abuse as a risk factor for underage entry to sex work along the U.S.-Mexico border
Methods: This mixed methods study surveyed 600 female sex workers (FSWs) identified via venue-based sampling in two cities on the U.S.-Mexico border, Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez. The questionnaire includes: (1) FSW socio-demographics, (2) substance use, (3) sexual behavior and experiences, and (4) sex work history. 30 in-depth interviews (15 in each city) were conducted with FSWs screening positive for sex trafficking via the quantitative survey.
Results: Of FSWs surveyed, 17.2% reported entering sex work prior to age of 17. 10.8% of all surveyed FSWs reported forced sexual activity prior to age 13. Perpetrators of forced sexual activity under age 13 were 78.4% family members and 21.6% non-family. In multivariate analyses adjusted for demographics and early drug use, FSWs reporting first time forced sexual activity by a family member prior to age 13 were 2.2 times more likely to report entering sex work prior to age 17 [p=0.04, CI 1.1-4.8]. Qualitative data illustrates how forced sex as a child can make girls vulnerable to underage entry to sex work.
Conclusion: Child sexual abuse may increase girls’ vulnerability to underage sex work entry in Mexico. These results underscore the importance of targeting underage sex work entry prevention efforts among vulnerable and abused youth.
Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health educationEpidemiology
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Identify vulnerabilities associated with underage entry into sex work in Mexico.
Describe the nature of child sexual abuse experienced by female sex workers in Mexico.
Keyword(s): Adolescents, Sex Workers
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have an MPH from University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and I am currently the Program Manager for Dr. Jay Silverman at the Center of Gender Equity and Health at the UC, San Diego. I coordinate domestic and international research projects on sex-trafficking, gender-based violence, and HIV risk among vulnerable populations. I am Spanish-speaking, with experience working on studies in Central America as well as with recent Latino immigrants in the United States.
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.