1. Lifetime and past-month substance use and injection among street-based female sex workers in Iran
- Author
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Roshanfekr, Payam, Khezri, Mehrdad, Karimi, Salah Eddin, Vameghi, Meroe, Ali, Delaram, Ahmadi, Sina, Ahounbar, Elahe, Mahzari, Kambiz, Roshanpajouh, Mohsen, Noroozi, Mehdi, Shokoohi, Mostafa, and Mirzazadeh, Ali
- Subjects
Prevention ,HIV/AIDS ,Substance Misuse ,Drug Abuse (NIDA only) ,Brain Disorders ,Development of treatments and therapeutic interventions ,Evaluation of treatments and therapeutic interventions ,6.1 Pharmaceuticals ,5.1 Pharmaceuticals ,Good Health and Well Being ,Female ,HIV Infections ,Humans ,Iran ,Sex Work ,Sex Workers ,Substance Abuse ,Intravenous ,Substance-Related Disorders ,Female sex workers ,Drug use ,Injection drug use ,Harm reduction ,Public Health and Health Services ,Substance Abuse - Abstract
BackgroundStreet-based female sex workers (FSWs) are highly at risk of HIV and other harms associated with sex work. We assessed the prevalence of non-injection and injection drug use and their associated factors among street-based FSWs in Iran.MethodsWe recruited 898 FSWs from 414 venues across 19 major cities in Iran between October 2016 and March 2017. Correlates of lifetime and past-month non-injection and injection drug use were assessed through multivariable logistic regression models. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported.ResultsLifetime and past-month non-injection drug use were reported by 60.3% (95% CI 51, 84) and 47.2% (95% CI 38, 67) of FSWs, respectively. The prevalence of lifetime and past-month injection drug use were 8.6% (95% CI 6.9, 10.7) and 3.7% (95% CI 2.6, 5.2), respectively. Recent non-injection drug use was associated with divorced marital status (AOR 2.00, 95% CI 1.07, 3.74), temporary marriage (AOR 4.31 [1.79, 10.40]), had > 30 clients per month (AOR 2.76 [1.29, 5.90]), ever alcohol use (AOR 3.03 [1.92, 6.79]), and history of incarceration (AOR 7.65 [3.89, 15.30]). Similarly, lifetime injection drug use was associated with ever alcohol use (AOR 2.74 [1.20-6.20]), ever incarceration (AOR 5.06 [2.48-10.28]), and ever group sex (AOR 2.44 [1.21-4.92]).ConclusionsNon-injection and injection drug use are prevalent among street-based FSWs in Iran. Further prevention programs are needed to address and reduce harms associated with drug use among this vulnerable population in Iran.
- Published
- 2021