Exploring associations between place of sex work and HIV vulnerabilities among sex workers in Jamaica

Carmen H. Logie; Ying Wang; Patrick Lalor; Davina Williams; Kandasi Levermore; Susan G. Sherman

doi:10.1177/0956462420948408

Exploring associations between place of sex work and HIV vulnerabilities among sex workers in Jamaica

Carmen H. Logie, Ying Wang, Patrick Lalor, Davina Williams, Kandasi Levermore, Susan G. Sherman

Bloomberg School of Public Health

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Sex workers’ work environment shapes HIV transmission dynamics. We applied the Structural HIV Determinants Framework to examine associations between the work environment of public spaces and HIV infection risks among sex workers in Jamaica, considering macro-structural (police harassment) and intrapersonal (depression) pathways. We implemented a cross-sectional survey with sex workers in Kingston, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, and nearby towns in Jamaica. We conducted structural equation modeling to examine direct and indirect associations between place of sex work on HIV serostatus via mediators of police harassment and depression. Results indicate that public place of sex work had a significant indirect effect on self-reported HIV-positive serostatus; depression and police harassment mediated this relationship. Findings suggest that in contexts of criminalization, the sex work environment can elevate exposure to police violence and depression, in turn increasing HIV vulnerabilities.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1186-1194
Number of pages	9
Journal	International Journal of STD and AIDS
Volume	31
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/0956462420948408
State	Published - Oct 1 2020

Keywords

HIV
Jamaica
Sex work
depression
violence
work environment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Dermatology
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Pharmacology (medical)
Infectious Diseases

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10.1177/0956462420948408

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title = "Exploring associations between place of sex work and HIV vulnerabilities among sex workers in Jamaica",

abstract = "Sex workers{\textquoteright} work environment shapes HIV transmission dynamics. We applied the Structural HIV Determinants Framework to examine associations between the work environment of public spaces and HIV infection risks among sex workers in Jamaica, considering macro-structural (police harassment) and intrapersonal (depression) pathways. We implemented a cross-sectional survey with sex workers in Kingston, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, and nearby towns in Jamaica. We conducted structural equation modeling to examine direct and indirect associations between place of sex work on HIV serostatus via mediators of police harassment and depression. Results indicate that public place of sex work had a significant indirect effect on self-reported HIV-positive serostatus; depression and police harassment mediated this relationship. Findings suggest that in contexts of criminalization, the sex work environment can elevate exposure to police violence and depression, in turn increasing HIV vulnerabilities.",

keywords = "HIV, Jamaica, Sex work, depression, violence, work environment",

author = "Logie, {Carmen H.} and Ying Wang and Patrick Lalor and Davina Williams and Kandasi Levermore and Sherman, {Susan G.}",

note = "Funding Information: We would like to thank all of the participants, peer research assistants and collaborators: Jamaica AIDS Support for Life, JFLAG: Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays, Caribbean Vulnerable Communities (CVC), Transwave, Aphrodite{\textquoteright}s Pride, and the Sex Work Association of Jamaica. We recognize funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Gender & Health. Dr. Logie{\textquoteright}s efforts were also supported by an Ontario Ministry of Research & Innovation Early Researcher Award, the Canada Research Chair in Global Health Equity and Social Justice with Marginalized Populations, and the Canada Foundation for Innovation. Logie also received support from a Fulbright Canada Research Chair in Public Health at Johns Hopkins University.",

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doi = "10.1177/0956462420948408",

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AU - Sherman, Susan G.

N1 - Funding Information: We would like to thank all of the participants, peer research assistants and collaborators: Jamaica AIDS Support for Life, JFLAG: Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays, Caribbean Vulnerable Communities (CVC), Transwave, Aphrodite’s Pride, and the Sex Work Association of Jamaica. We recognize funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Gender & Health. Dr. Logie’s efforts were also supported by an Ontario Ministry of Research & Innovation Early Researcher Award, the Canada Research Chair in Global Health Equity and Social Justice with Marginalized Populations, and the Canada Foundation for Innovation. Logie also received support from a Fulbright Canada Research Chair in Public Health at Johns Hopkins University.

PY - 2020/10/1

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N2 - Sex workers’ work environment shapes HIV transmission dynamics. We applied the Structural HIV Determinants Framework to examine associations between the work environment of public spaces and HIV infection risks among sex workers in Jamaica, considering macro-structural (police harassment) and intrapersonal (depression) pathways. We implemented a cross-sectional survey with sex workers in Kingston, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, and nearby towns in Jamaica. We conducted structural equation modeling to examine direct and indirect associations between place of sex work on HIV serostatus via mediators of police harassment and depression. Results indicate that public place of sex work had a significant indirect effect on self-reported HIV-positive serostatus; depression and police harassment mediated this relationship. Findings suggest that in contexts of criminalization, the sex work environment can elevate exposure to police violence and depression, in turn increasing HIV vulnerabilities.

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