Correlates of pregnancy among Female Sex Workers (FSWs) in semi urban Blantyre, Malawi
Abstract Background Little is known about female sex workers’ (FSWs) reproductive health apart from their being at higher than usual risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the correlates of pregnancy among FSWs in semi – urba...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-06-01
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| Series: | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12884-020-03018-3 |
| _version_ | 1818108591710666752 |
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| author | Donatien Twizelimana Adamson S. Muula |
| author_facet | Donatien Twizelimana Adamson S. Muula |
| author_sort | Donatien Twizelimana |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Little is known about female sex workers’ (FSWs) reproductive health apart from their being at higher than usual risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the correlates of pregnancy among FSWs in semi – urban Blantyre in Malawi. Methods We used systematic sampling to recruit a total of 200 FSWs in four different study sites in Blantyre. Data were collected through questionnaire interviews. We calculated the mean and standard deviation for continuous covariates and proportions for categorical variables to describe the data. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the correlates between the outcome variable (pregnancy) and independent variables. Results Ninety one (45, 5%) FSWs were between 18 and 24 years. The prevalence of pregnancy was 61% for FSWs born in rural place as compared to 37% for those who were born in town. In multivariate analysis FSWs who reported to value being respected as mothers had 12 times the risk of pregnancy comparing to the ones who did not (AOR: 11.8, 95% CI: [4.56, 30.72] p-value < 0.001). FSWs who reported using condoms inconsistently had five times the risk of pregnancy compared to the ones who did not, (AOR: 5.26, 95% CI: [2.29, 12.08], p-value < 0.001). FSWs who had a request to bear children from steady partners had 5 times the risk of pregnancy comparing to the ones who did not (AOR: 5.07, 95% CI: [2.14, 11.99]). FSWs who reported forgetfulness of contraceptives’ use had 3 times more risk of pregnancy comparing to the ones who did not (AOR: 3.49 CI: [1.29, 9.37], p-value < 0.013). Conclusion The study documents a wide range of correlates of pregnancies among FSWs in the study sites. It is important to recognize the child bearing desires and circumstances of FSWs in order to inform health programs responsive to their needs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T02:17:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b5f28fe002a5406980fda6febc2e1589 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2393 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T02:17:48Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| spelling | doaj.art-b5f28fe002a5406980fda6febc2e15892022-12-22T01:24:08ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932020-06-012011710.1186/s12884-020-03018-3Correlates of pregnancy among Female Sex Workers (FSWs) in semi urban Blantyre, MalawiDonatien Twizelimana0Adamson S. Muula1Mlambe Mission HospitalDepartment of Public Health, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of MalawiAbstract Background Little is known about female sex workers’ (FSWs) reproductive health apart from their being at higher than usual risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the correlates of pregnancy among FSWs in semi – urban Blantyre in Malawi. Methods We used systematic sampling to recruit a total of 200 FSWs in four different study sites in Blantyre. Data were collected through questionnaire interviews. We calculated the mean and standard deviation for continuous covariates and proportions for categorical variables to describe the data. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the correlates between the outcome variable (pregnancy) and independent variables. Results Ninety one (45, 5%) FSWs were between 18 and 24 years. The prevalence of pregnancy was 61% for FSWs born in rural place as compared to 37% for those who were born in town. In multivariate analysis FSWs who reported to value being respected as mothers had 12 times the risk of pregnancy comparing to the ones who did not (AOR: 11.8, 95% CI: [4.56, 30.72] p-value < 0.001). FSWs who reported using condoms inconsistently had five times the risk of pregnancy compared to the ones who did not, (AOR: 5.26, 95% CI: [2.29, 12.08], p-value < 0.001). FSWs who had a request to bear children from steady partners had 5 times the risk of pregnancy comparing to the ones who did not (AOR: 5.07, 95% CI: [2.14, 11.99]). FSWs who reported forgetfulness of contraceptives’ use had 3 times more risk of pregnancy comparing to the ones who did not (AOR: 3.49 CI: [1.29, 9.37], p-value < 0.013). Conclusion The study documents a wide range of correlates of pregnancies among FSWs in the study sites. It is important to recognize the child bearing desires and circumstances of FSWs in order to inform health programs responsive to their needs.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12884-020-03018-3Female sex workersCorrelates of pregnancyMotherhoodHIVFSWs’ partners |
| spellingShingle | Donatien Twizelimana Adamson S. Muula Correlates of pregnancy among Female Sex Workers (FSWs) in semi urban Blantyre, Malawi BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Female sex workers Correlates of pregnancy Motherhood HIV FSWs’ partners |
| title | Correlates of pregnancy among Female Sex Workers (FSWs) in semi urban Blantyre, Malawi |
| title_full | Correlates of pregnancy among Female Sex Workers (FSWs) in semi urban Blantyre, Malawi |
| title_fullStr | Correlates of pregnancy among Female Sex Workers (FSWs) in semi urban Blantyre, Malawi |
| title_full_unstemmed | Correlates of pregnancy among Female Sex Workers (FSWs) in semi urban Blantyre, Malawi |
| title_short | Correlates of pregnancy among Female Sex Workers (FSWs) in semi urban Blantyre, Malawi |
| title_sort | correlates of pregnancy among female sex workers fsws in semi urban blantyre malawi |
| topic | Female sex workers Correlates of pregnancy Motherhood HIV FSWs’ partners |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12884-020-03018-3 |
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