Michael P. Hengartner|Nazrul Islam|Helene Haker|Wulf Rössler
Mental Health and Functioning of Female Sex Workers in Chittagong, Bangladesh
ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences|Institute for Biomedical Engineering|University of Zurich|ETH Zurich|University of Zurich|Universidade de São Paulo
examine mental health functioning female sex workers fsw chittagong bangladesh population commonly neglected mental health policy researchwe included 259 women study age 232 years range 1148 comprehensive composite international diagnostic interview used assess 12month prevalence rates dsmiv mental disorders comprehensive questionnaire adapted explore various factors sociodemographics working living conditions experiences abuseon average participants began commercial sex work 185 years old range 1045 main motives sex work coercion 494 necessity financially support families 548 total 224 fsw 865 wanted quit commercial sex work mental disorder within past 12 months reported 100 fsw 386 drug abuse clearly prevalent diagnosis 154 sexual physical emotional abuse common among fsw substance use disorders sud significantly prevalent persons experienced emotional abuse 22 prevalence rates mental disorder sud higher women sex work support family whereas mood disorders frequent needed money pay debts participants disorder significantly older without age 244 vs 225 years started significantly later sex business age 197 vs 177 yearsour study revealed fsw chittagong vulnerable highly impaired expressed high rates abuse mental disorders coercion common many fsw required work sex business need money support families fsw marginalized population especially developing countries awareness mental health low availability mental health services insufficient