A Qualitative Exploration of Female Sex Work in Tijuana, Mexico

Abstract

Previous research has documented high rates of STDs and increased risk of HIV infection among female sex workers (FSWs) in Mexico; however, little is known about the sexual risk behaviors of this population. The purpose of this study was to explore work history, context of sex work, sexual risk practices, client characteristics, attitudes toward condoms, and potential barriers to condom use in a sample of FSWs in Tijuana, Mexico. Analysis of qualitative data from 25 FSWs revealed that most women entered the sex trade at a young age ( M = 23 years), primarily as a result of financial need. Forty percent were single mothers supporting children. Women worked an average of 6-7 days per week; work shifts ranged from 4 to 13 hr per day. Clients were both Mexican and foreign (mostly American and Asian), and ranged in age from 18 to 80 years. Positive aspects of the job included flexible work hours and good income. Negative aspects of sex work included risks associated with physical assault, diseases, and unwanted pregnancies. Most clients did not want to use a condom and many offered additional money for unprotected sex. FSWs did not like to use condoms because they were perceived as uncomfortable. Most FSWs did not negotiate the use of condoms, had a low knowledge regarding the proper use of condoms, and were reticent to report their own unsafe sex practices. These results suggest the need to develop culturally appropriate safer sex interventions for FSWs in Mexican border cities.

Predictors of Injection Cessation and Relapse among Female Sex Workers who Inject Drugs in Two Mexican-US Border Cities

“…34,35 FSW-PWID who earn less income may be more vulnerable overall and deeply entrenched in drug use. Although having a pimp or manager can also exacerbate economic vulnerabilities, previous research with primarily streetbased female sex workers in Tijuana found that only 2.7 % reported having a Bpimp^3 and that these women report maintaining autonomy from men in their work, 36 so we do not think that this is a major factor driving this relationship. On the other hand, having a larger income was protective against relapse, suggesting that interventions targeting women's economic needs (e.g., reducing debt or promoting savings through microfinance programs or providing vocational training) could help women to stop injecting drugs and avoid relapse.…”

“…32,44,45 For FSW at the US-Mexico border, a large majority have dependent children and financial responsibilities for them has frequently been cited as a key reason for entering sex work. 36,48 Previous studies by our group suggest, however, that FSW-PWID are less likely to report living with their children than other FSWs, 19, 49 perhaps because they have been apprehended by child welfare agencies. The provision of child care and support for child custody may then be an important motivator for women to enter and stay in MMTPs or other harm reduction programs.…”

The (hidden) costs of political instability: Evidence from Kenya's 2007 election crisis

“…Similar increases were seen following the Great Depression in the United States (Allen, 2004) and during the economic turmoil in the former USSR in the 1990s (Aral et al, 2003;Atlani et al, 2000). Interview or questionnaire-based studies …nd a similar pattern -when asked, a signi…cant fraction of women report that the reason that they entered sex work was …nancial distress or hardship (see Bucardo et al, 2004 for a study in Mexico; and Robinson and Yeh, 2011b for evidence from Kenya). These studies all focus on the extensive margin of sex work (entry into the profession).…”

“…15 However, these e¤ects are relatively small compared to the e¤ect of the Thus we …nd surprisingly little di¤erence in smoothing ability across individuals overall. 16 This speaks to the nature of the crisis, a fundamental political crisis which was felt throughout Kenya, making interpersonal risk-coping di¢ cult. Thus, it does not appear to be the case that certain individuals su¤ered because they were isolated from social networks.…”

Correlates of injection drug use among female sex workers in two Mexico–U.S. border cities

“…Although some FSWs in these cities are relatively high income earners, most are from lower socioeconomic strata. Most enter prostitution out of economic necessity (Bucardo et al, 2004); for example, due to a failed relationship or intolerable working conditions in maquiladoras (Grossman et al, 1985), (i.e., assembly plants that use their low labor costs to attract manufacturing contracts from foreign firms). Factors related to their mobility, such as extreme poverty and low social support, may heighten their vulnerability to HIV/STIs (Fernandez, 1998, Rangel et al, 2006.…”