PREVALENCE AND CORRELATES OF VIOLENCE AGAINST FEMALE SEX WORKERS IN ABUJA, NIGERIA

This study documents the types and risk factors of violence experienced by FSWs. The study was a survey of 305 brothel-based FSWs residing in brothels in Abuja, Nigeria. The mean age of the FSW was 27±5.7 years. The prevalence of VAW six months preceding the survey was 52.8%, 59.5% had experienced three or more episodes of abuse in that interval. Sexual violence was the commonest type (43.3%) of VAW experienced, followed by physical violence 38.7%. The main perpetrators of sexual violence in the last six months were clients (47.5%), brothel owners/co-sex workers (38.2%), police officers (4.0%), local thugs (8.0%) and strangers (2.3%). Sexual violence was significantly more experienced (P=0.002) by FSWs with primary or no education (57.7%) compared with those with more than secondary education (40.6%); and by FSWs from the high class (43.6% vs. 15.2%, P=0.51) and amongst those who had fewer years of work experience in SW (54.2 vs. 25.6%, P=0.03). Physical violence was significantly more experienced among older FSWs (55.0%) than their younger counterparts (32.9%) (P=0.002). Older respondents who had 10 years or more experience in SW were 1.9 more vulnerable than younger respondents with less than 10 years to economic violence (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.01-3.52). Interventions to end violence to FSWs and to discourage SW are needed.