Violence against female sex workers in Cameroon: accounts of violence, harm reduction, and potential solutions

Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes : JAIDS
Sahnah LimStefan D Baral

Abstract

Female sex workers (FSWs) in Cameroon, and West Africa generally, suffer a disproportionate burden of HIV. Although violence against FSWs has been documented extensively in other parts of the world, data on violence from West African countries are lacking. The aim of this study was to qualitatively document violence and harm reduction strategies from the perspective of FSWs in Cameroon as well as to understand how experiences of violence may increase FSWs' HIV risk. FSWs from 7 major cities in Cameroon (Douala, Yaounde, Bamenda, Bertoua, Nagoundere, Kribi, and Bafoussam) were purposively recruited. Data from 31 in-depth interviews and 7 focus groups (n = 70; with some overlapping participants from in-depth interviews) conducted with these FSWs in 6 of these 7 cities (excluding Kribi) were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Transcripts revealed 3 primary themes related to violence: (1) sources and types of violence, including sexual, physical, and financial violence perpetrated by clients and police, (2) harm reduction strategies, including screening clients and safe work locations, receipt of payment before sexual act, and formation of an informal security network, and (3) recommendations on structural changes to reduce...Continue Reading

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Citations

Feb 15, 2019·Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes : JAIDS·Anna L BowringStefan Baral
Apr 11, 2019·Journal of Interpersonal Violence·Sarah M PeitzmeierMichele R Decker
Jul 21, 2016·Journal of the International AIDS Society·Katherine Ha FooterSusan G Sherman
Jun 10, 2016·Journal of Urban Health : Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine·Michele R Decker, Susan G Sherman
Jun 27, 2019·The International Journal of Social Psychiatry·Anna AbelsonStefan D Baral
Sep 7, 2017·Journal of Urban Health : Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine·Michele R DeckerSusan G Sherman
Nov 5, 2019·Journal of Interpersonal Violence·Ju Nyeong ParkSusan G Sherman
Dec 11, 2020·Journal of Interpersonal Violence·Danielle F NestadtSusan G Sherman
Jan 21, 2021·Reproductive Health·Donatien Twizelimana, Adamson S Muula
Feb 28, 2015·Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes : JAIDS·Tisha WheelerGina Dallabetta
Mar 27, 2021·Sexual Medicine Reviews·Andrea SansoneEmmanuele A Jannini

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