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Cited by 67Sex work and related issuesHIV, Drug Use, Sexual RiskSexual Assault and Victimization Studies

Prevalence and Characteristics of Abuse Experiences and Depression Symptoms among Injection Drug-Using Female Sex Workers in Mexico

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Ulibarri, Monica D., Hiller, Sarah P., Lozada, Remedios, Rangel, M. Gudelia, Stockman, Jamila K., Silverman, Jay G., Ojeda, Victoria D.·2013·Journal of Environmental and Public Health
DOI 10.1155/2013/631479PMC PMC3666207
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Abstract

This mixed methods study examined the prevalence and characteristics of physical and sexual abuse and depression symptoms among 624 injection drug-using female sex workers (FSW-IDUs) in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico; a subset of 47 from Tijuana also underwent qualitative interviews. Linear regressions identified correlates of current depression symptoms. In the interviews, FSW-IDUs identified drug use as a method of coping with the trauma they experienced from abuse that occurred before and after age 18 and during the course of sex work. In a multivariate linear regression model, two factors-ever experiencing forced sex and forced sex in the context of sex work-were significantly associated with higher levels of depression symptoms. Our findings suggest the need for integrated mental health and drug abuse services for FSW-IDUs addressing history of trauma as well as for further research on violence revictimization in the context of sex work in Mexico.

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  • A variety of factors inform the prevalence of mental illness among transgender FSW, including violence exposure, stigma, and substance use.

    “A variety of factors inform the prevalence of mental illness among transgender FSW, including violence exposure, stigma, and substance use.2–4,6–11”

    From Mindfulness, Mental Health, and Violence Exposure Among Transgender Female Sex Workers Living with HIV in the Dominican Republic. (2026) · cites this paper as [9]

    The Results (§3.5) associate experiences of forced sex with depressive symptoms among injection drug-using female sex workers in Mexico. The paper does not establish this finding for transgender sex workers or address stigma as a factor. It also reports that drug-abuse variables were not significantly associated with depressive symptoms, although the Discussion describes drug use as a way some women coped with trauma. (LLM, conf=0.89)

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Authors
Ulibarri, M. D., Hiller, S. P., Lozada, R., Rangel, M. G., Stockman, J. K., Silverman, J. G., & Ojeda, V. D.
Affiliations
  • University of California San Diego (US)
  • Prevencasa, Avenida Baja California 7580, Zona Norte, 22000 Tijuana, BC, Mexico
  • El Colegio de La Frontera Norte-Secretaria de Salud, Carretera Escenica Tijuana-Ensenada, Km. 18.5, San Antonio del Mar, 22560 Tijuana, BC, Mexico
Corresponding author
Ojeda, Victoria D.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Environmental and Public Health
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2013
Volume
2013
Pages
1-11
ISSN
  • 1687-9805 (ISSN-L)
  • 1687-9813
DOI
10.1155/2013/631479
PMC
PMC3666207
OpenAlex
W2162268061
Cited by
67
References
8
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 4
FWCI
13.42
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Environmental and Public Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Institute on Drug Abuse (K01 DA026307, K01 DA025504, K01 DA031593, R01 DA027772)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Sex work and related issues
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
Keywords
female sex workers, intravenous drug use, depressive symptoms, physical abuse, sexual abuse, forced sex, trauma, revictimization, violence against sex workers, mental health services, Tijuana, Ciudad Juárez
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Child, Child Abuse, Sexual, Cities, Data Collection, Depression, Female, Humans, Mexico, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sex Offenses, Spouse Abuse, Prevalence, Drug Users, Young Adult, Sex Workers

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