Abstract: Vulnerability of Russian Idu-Sex Workers towards Police Sexual Coercion (Society for Prevention Research 21st Annual Meeting)

Schedule:

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Pacific D-O (Hyatt Regency San Francisco)

* noted as presenting author

Maia Rusakova, PhD, Director, NGO Stellit, St.Petersburg, Russia

Veronika Odinokova, MS, Head of Innovation programs, NGO Stellit, St.Petersburg, Russia

Lianne A. Urada, PhD, Postdoctoral fellow, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA, Russia

Jay Silverman, PhD, Professor of Medicine and Global Health, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA

Anita Raj, PhD, Professor, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA

Background: Female sex workers (FSW) in Russia are at high risk for HIV

acquisition and transmission due to both their sex work involvement and high rates of

injection drug use (IDU) behaviors that also increase their risk for police violence.

Studies suggest an association between increased sexual and IDU-related risk for HIV

among FSW and violence from police, but there is a paucity of data examining this

issue in Russia. This study assesses whether substance use increases risk for sexual

coercion from police among FSW in St. Petersburg and Orenburg, Russia.

Methods: FSWs in St. Petersburg and Orenburg were recruited via time-location

sampling and completed structured surveys on demographics (age, education), sex

work risks (e.g., violence during sex work), and substance use. Logistic regression

analyses assessed associations between substance use and police sexual coercion,

adjusting for sex work risks and demographics.

Results: Participants (N=896) were aged 15 and older (94% were 20+ years). Most

(69%) reported past year binge alcohol use, and 48% reported IDU the day before.

Half (56%) reported 4+ clients per day typically; 54% reported sex work 6-7 days per

week. Rape during sex work ever was reported by 64%. Police sexual coercion ever

was reported by 38%. In the multivariate model both IDU (AOR=2.09, CI=1.45-3.02)

and binge alcohol use (AOR=1.46, CI=1.03-2.07) were associated with police

coercion, as was selling sex on the street (not in venues) (AOR=7.81, CI=4.53-13.48),

rape during sex work (AOR=2.04, CI=1.43-2.92), and education (AOR=.67, CI=0.46-

0.99).

Conclusions: Police sexual coercion was common among FSW in Russia and more

likely among those FSW reporting binge alcohol use and IDU. Street sex workers are

particularly vulnerable to such coercion. Structural interventions are needed to reduce

police violence against FSW in Russia and may be helpful to reduce their risks for

HIV, as well.

12 Vulnerability of Russian Idu-Sex Workers towards Police Sexual Coercion