Table 2:
Reasons for current engagement in SW, by report of current engagement in sex work to support children (N=214)
| Total | Current sex work to support children | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| N=214 | No (N=157; 73%) | Yes (N=57; 27%) | |
| Current reasons for sex work (not mutually exclusive): | |||
| • To get drugs | 183 (85.5%) | 138 (87.9%) | 45 (78.9%) |
| • Basic needs/living expenses (food, place to stay, extra spending money, pay bills)** | 146 (68.2%) | 99 (63.1%) | 47 (82.5%) |
| • No other job opportunities** | 27 (12.6%) | 13 (8.3%) | 14 (24.6%) |
| • To pay off a debt* | 25 (11.7%) | 13 (8.3%) | 12 (21.1%) |
| • To support regular sex partner(s) or non-child family members** | 13 (6.1%) | 5 (3.2%) | 8 (14.0%) |
| Patterning of non-drug concurrent reasons for sex work^: | |||
| • Drugs only | 59 (93.7%) | 51 (94.4%) | 8 (88.9%) |
| • Expenses only | 97 (45.3%) | 74 (47.1%) | 23 (40.4%) |
| • Job only | 4 (1.9%) | 3 (1.9%) | 1 (1.8%) |
| • Partner/family only | 1 (0.5%) | 1 (0.6%) | 0 (0.0%) |
| • Expenses & partner/family | 6 (2.8%) | 3 (1.9%) | 3 (5.3%) |
| • Expenses & debt | 19 (8.9%) | 12 (7.6%) | 7 (12.3%) |
| • Expenses, partner/family & debt | 1 (0.5%) | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (1.8%) |
| • Expenses & job | 15 (7.0%) | 8 (5.1%) | 7 (12.3%) |
| • Expenses, partner/family & job | 3 (1.4%) | 1 (0.7%) | 2 (3.5%) |
| • Expenses, debt & job | 3 (1.4%) | 1 (0.7%) | 2 (3.5%) |
| • Expenses, partner/family, debt & job | 2 (0.9%) | 0 (0.0%) | 2 (3.5%) |
^
Reasons abbreviated: “job”=no other job opportunities; “expenses”=to cover basic living expenses (food, place to stay, pay bills, extra spending money); “partner/family”=to support regular sex partner(s) or non-child family members; “debt”=to pay off a debt
*
p<0.05
**
p<0.01