Table 2.
Sociodemographic characteristics, by sex worker status
| Characteristic, Column % |
Overall N = 506 |
Female sex workersa N = 335 |
Non-Sex workers N = 171 |
χ2 testb p-values |
| Age Group (years) | ||||
| 18–25 | 47.4 | 44.8 | 52.6 | 0.094 |
| 26–55 | 52.6 | 55.2 | 47.4 | |
| Years of Education | ||||
| Lower than 7th grade | 15.4 | 21.5 | 3.5 | <0.001 |
| 7th to 12th grade | 76.9 | 74.3 | 81.9 | |
| Higher than 12th grade | 7.7 | 4.2 | 14.6 | |
| Current Marital Status | ||||
| Single, without a main sex partner | 22.9 | 34.3 | 0.6 | <0.001 |
| Not living with a main sex partner | 48.3 | 37.0 | 70.2 | |
| Living with a main sex partner | 24.7 | 26.5 | 21.1 | |
| Married, separated, divorced, or widowed | 4.2 | 2.1 | 8.2 | |
| Number of Children | ||||
| None | 33.8 | 34.3 | 29.8 | 0.186 |
| One | 33.4 | 31.0 | 39.2 | |
| Two or more | 32.8 | 34.6 | 31.0 | |
| Residence or Living Space with Running Water, Yes | 77.7 | 69.3 | 94.2 | <0.001 |
| Residence or Living Space with Electricity, Yes | 59.3 | 43.3 | 90.6 | <0.001 |
| Family History of Alcohol or Drug Abusec, Yes | 70.2 | 66.0 | 78.4 | 0.004 |
| History of Being Physically Abusedd, Yes | 53.8 | 63.3 | 35.1 | <0.001 |
| History of Being Sexually Abusede, Yes | 30.8 | 37.6 | 17.5 | <0.001 |
| Age of First Alcohol Use | ||||
| Before 18 | 46.4 | 45.4 | 48.5 | 0.500 |
| 18 or older | 53.6 | 54.6 | 51.5 | |
| Age of First Marijuana, Dagga, or Ganja Use | ||||
| Never used | 44.9 | 32.5 | 69.0 | <0.001 |
| Before 18 | 19.0 | 20.3 | 16.4 | |
| 18 or older | 36.2 | 47.2 | 14.6 |
a Female sex workers are defined as females who had traded sex for drugs, money, food, or other goods in the past 90 days.
b Pearson chi-square test
NS: p > 0.05
c Family history of alcohol or other drug abuse: Ever having problems with alcohol or other drug use by any biological family member of the respondent.
d History of being physically abused: Ever being physically hurt by striking or beating to the point that the respondent had bruises, cuts, or broken bones.
e History of being sexually abused: Ever being pressured or forced to participate in sexual acts against the respondent's will.