An Assessment of the Quality of Life (QOL) of Women in Prostitution: A Pilot Study

[Guest guest]

Sociey For Development Research and Training (SFDRT) - Pondicherry

conducted a pilot study to asses the Quality of Life among sex workers

and disseminated to academicians, policy makers, political leaders, NGOs etc. on

the 22nd March at Hotel Mass, Pondicherry.

An Assessment of the Quality of Life (QOL) of Women in Prostitution: A Pilot

Study Shyamala Ashok, K Jeyaraman, Innacy Rocky

BACKGROUND: Urgent

need and justification for a formative and an evaluative research in

assessing the current QoL among the WIP, not addressed by any of the

current interventions. Safe guarding the WIP from HIV infections, aiming at

health seeking behavior without improving the quality of life, will not be

prudent enough.

PURPOSE: To identify major obstacles to the current implementation of the

targeted interventions amidst WIP, by assessing the mental health scores

facilitating their QoL.

METHOD: Cross sectional study conducted, with cluster sampling covering

30-clusters within the high movement of WIP. Researchers administered 100-item

interview schedule with FGD and casework used for data collection. WHOQOL 100

dealt with 6 domains and 24 facets of WIP. Univarate and descriptive statistics

were used to elucidate the six domains with mean scoring and SD. Chi-square test

for independence of attributes were merged. Mann Whitney and Kruskal Wallis were

done to test the equality of medians of more than two groups for independent

variable and domain scoring. CATPCA simultaneously quantifies categorical

variables while reducing the dimensionality of the data.

Discriminant Analysis finds a set of prediction equations based on

independent variables that are used to classify individuals into two

groups.

RESULTS: Average age of WIP - 32 years; 77.5 per cent reported officially

married and are living single; Living single are

faced high volume of violence and abuses than the married; 66 per cent

scored Poor in the self-rating of QoL.

Home environment score is more among married than single. Married women indulge

without any interest in sexual life and the corresponding proportion among

unmarried women is less (÷2 = 10.396, p=0.034).

Illiterate and less educated ladies are exploited in the society (work

capacity). Illiterate WIP are compensated in the form of cinema, alcohol, and

other recreation measures.

Out of six domains assessed Physical (41); Psychological (46.5) and Spiritual

(47.5) are below fifty per cent and shown poor QoL and the rest, Level of

Independence QoL (57.8); Social Relationships (53.6); Environment (50.6) were

also not gratifying. Physical strain is too much and is statistically

significant from married group.

There is no significant difference what so ever in any areas of domain with

respect to age and education. Majority reported with no proper sleep affecting

their daily routine, adding to existing stress and strain. Psychological

(stress, moods & emotions, depression and unworthiness) factors seem to affect

them and are found to be highly statistically significant. 64.8 per cent have

negative feelings and depression and 65.2 per cent were feeling lonely.

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Recommendations: Interventions should Include de addiction within the existing

BCC, enhanced STI care, availability of Drop In Center, legal & human rights,

night shelter for children of sex workers, savings, continuous psycho social

interventions, STD/HIV prevention and care with support encompassing Health

Belief Model, Diffusion of Innovation Theory, Social Cognitive Theory or AIDS

Risk Reduction Model. (ARRM).

This study was supported by RCSHA - New Delhi and the complete study can be

requested with SFDRT -

Shymala ASHOK

e-mail: <aabinand@...>

sfdrt@...