Client-Initiated Violence Against Zambian Female Sex Workers: Prevalence and Associations With Behavior, Environment, and Sexual History

Kalonde Malama (1) , Luis Sagaon-Teyssier (1) , Rachel Parker (2) , Amanda Tichacek (2) , Tyronza Sharkey (2) , William Kilembe (2) , Mubiana Inambao (2) , Matt Price (3) , Bruno Spire (1) , Susan E. Allen (2)

1 SESSTIM - U1252 INSERM - Aix Marseille Univ - UMR 259 IRD - Sciences Economiques et Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale
2 Emory University School of Medicine
3 UC San Francisco - University of California [San Francisco]

Violence against women is a known risk factor for HIV and affects female sex workers (FSW) in sub-Saharan Africa. Little is known about the magnitude and determinants of violence against FSW in Zambia, where HIV and gender-based violence prevalence are high. We conducted a cross-sectional study, using multivariable logistic regression, to determine the prevalence and correlates of client-initiated physical violence among 419 FSW in Lusaka and Ndola. The prevalence of client-initiated physical violence was 39%. The odds of violence were higher for FSW who: lived in Lusaka, recruited clients from the street, serviced clients in the clients’ homes, had a physically forced sexual debut, and had a higher client volume. Our results call for safer working spaces for FSW and violence prevention interventions for their male clients.

Keywords: physical violence; female sex workers; clients; HIV; Zambia

Domains: Life Sciences [q-bio]; Santé publique et épidémiologie

Kalonde Malama, Luis Sagaon-Teyssier, Rachel Parker, Amanda Tichacek, Tyronza Sharkey, et al.. Client-Initiated Violence Against Zambian Female Sex Workers: Prevalence and Associations With Behavior, Environment, and Sexual History. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2021, 36 (17-18), pp.NP9483-NP9500. ⟨10.1177/0886260519860083⟩. ⟨hal-02612967⟩