Sexual Abuse Of Brothel-Based Female Sex Workers In Abuja, Nigeria .

1. Sexual Abuse Of Brothel-Based Female Sex Workers In Abuja, Nigeria. Dagunduro TA & Fawole OI (B.sc, MPH) Department of Epidemiology, Medical Statistics & Environmental Health, University of Ibadan, Ibadan

2. Introduction 1 • Violence Against Women (VAW) is the most persistent, yet least recognized human right abuse in the world. • Of all the forms of VAW, Sexual abuse or violence is the most densed with grave consequences for women globally particularly in Nigeria.

3. Introduction 2 Sexual abuse (SA) is any sexual act or attempt to obtain unwanted sexual comments, advances or otherwise directed against a person’s sexuality using coercion by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim in any setting including home or work (WHO,2002).

4. Introduction 3 Young girls and women are vulnerable to SA, particularly the poor, uneducated, immigrant, colored, refugee and even sex workers (SWs). Commercial Sex Work (CSW) is an exchange of sex for money and materials such as food, cloths, cars etc. Many women had engaged in sex work at one point or the other in their lives.

5. Introduction 4 However, they do not want to be identified with such work. The risks associated with the work include STIs and HIV infection, unplanned pregnancy, illegal abortion, untimely death etc.

6. Rationale for the study • In Nigeria, most of researches conducted on CSWs focused on STIs and HIV infection. Many acknowledged the problems of SA and its link with development of STIs and HIV infection. However, only very little is known about the magnitude and determinants of SA to the FSWs.

7. Objective Broad objective To document the prevalence and determinants of SA against FSWs in Abuja Specific objectives To assess knowledge of FSWs on SA To determine the prevalence of SA to FSWs To describe the forms of SA to FSWs To document the health consequences of SA

8. Methodology 1 Study population: FSWs from 14 brothels across the three socio- economic strata of Abuja Sample size: 305 & 15 for In-depth interview Research instruments: Semi-structured questionnaire & In-depth interview guide Sampling technique: stratified random sampling and proportional allocation of respondents into high, middle and low class brothels (table 1)

9. Methodology 2 Table1: Stratification of study location

10. Methodology 3 Ethical consideration UI/UCH Institutional Review Committee Permission and cooperation from brothel owners and managers Informed consent from participants– no names, confidentiality, free not to participate

11. Methodology 4 Pretest Cashew joint in Nasarawa state among 15 FSWs Data collection 2 research assistants and the investigators

12. Results 1 Demographic data The age of the respondents ranged from 15-50 years with mean of 27+5.7years. 228 (75.3%) had at least secondary education, while 77 (24.7%) had no formal or primary education 212 (69.5%) single, 37 (12.1%) were married & 56 (18.4%) separated/divorced 134 (45.1%) had children

13. Results 2 Table 2: Work habits of respondents

14. Results 3Other Vocations of FSWs n=305

15. Results 4 Majority (77.3%) of the participants started SW <5 years ago while 22.7% started >5 years ago 67.5% respondents resided permanently while 32.5% resided temporarily in the brothels. 69.2% were introduced to the profession by friends. 16.1% earned less than 5,000 per week,54.8% earned more than 5,000 per week and 89 29.2% refused to disclose

16. Results 5 Knowledge on SA Most (75.4%) of the respondents have heard about SA. The main source (25.2%) of information was TV/Radio 49.5% had adequate knowledge on SA Socio- economic status, education and marital status were all found to positively influence FSWs knowledge of SA (p<0.05)

17. Results 6 Types and prevalence of SA 22.3% respondents reported been sexually violated before they started sex work. Six months preceding the survey, the prevalence of SV to FSWs was 63.5%.

18. Results 7 Prevalence of SV against FSWs n=305

19. Results 8Determinants of SA

20. Results 9Determinants continued

21. Results 10Reasons for SAn=305

22. Results 11Perpetrators of SAn=305

23. Results 12Consequences of SAn=305

24. Results 13 In-depth interview revealed that SA is one of the occupational hazards of sex work aside the fact that the work is illegal. Also, Uniformed men take them for granted by raping them instead of protecting them from dangers. Only 48.5% respondents wished to quit the sex work and start a new life

25. Results 14Future plans for FSWs that wished to quit the jobn=148

26. Discussion 1 CSW is an illegal profession in Nigeria, it is a crime. FSWs are vulnerable to SA. The forms of SA mostly experienced by this group were rape, refusal to use condoms by their clients, change in mode of sexual intercourse by clients and refusal to pay for the agreed amount after sexual intercourse.

27. Discussion 2 Women who have been sexually abused in childhood had greater propensity to participate in risky sexual activities as adolescents or adults, thereby increasing chance of infection with STI/HIV (Maman et al., 2001).The prevalence of SA is high among FSWs with risk of transmission of STIs especially HIV between victims and perpetrators.

28. Conclusion This is a baseline information to determine the magnitude and determinants of SA in FSWs in Nigeria. There is high prevalence of sexual violence against FSWs. Education, socio-economic status of brothels, years of experience and age were determinants of SA.

29. Recommendation 1 There is need to empower young girls and women educationally and economically to mitigate prostitution There is need for further research in other parts of the country in order to develop intervention to mitigate SA. There is need to educate men on women’s right.

30. Recommendation 2 Policemen/uniformed men should be warned not to abuse the CSWs but to protect their rights Care and referral services for victims

31. Appreciation Thank you all for listening.

32. References Maman S, Mbwanbo J, Hogan M, Kilonzo G, Sweat M and Weiss E (2001). HIV and Partner Violence: Implications for HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing Programs in Dar es Salaam, Population Council, New York, NY. World Health Organization (2002). World Report on Violence and Health, Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.