Measuring vulnerability among female sex workers in India using a multidimensional framework

Bidhubhusan Mahapatra; Ruchira Bhattacharya; Yamini Atmavilas; Niranjan Saggurti

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0204055

Measuring vulnerability among female sex workers in India using a multidimensional framework

PLoS One. 2018 Sep 25;13(9):e0204055. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204055. eCollection 2018.

Authors

Bidhubhusan Mahapatra¹, Ruchira Bhattacharya^{1

2}, Yamini Atmavilas³, Niranjan Saggurti¹

Affiliations

¹ Population Council, Zone 5A, India Habitat Center, New Delhi, India.
² National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Rajendranagar Mandal, Hyderabad, India.
³ Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Capital Court, New Delhi, India.

Abstract

Measuring vulnerability and identifying determinants of vulnerability are key to designing interventions for marginalized groups like sex workers. The current study introduces a new approach of measuring vulnerability among female sex workers (FSWs) by adopting a multidimensional poverty measurement framework. A multidimensional vulnerability index was created from four dimensions and 16 indicators using a dual cut-off approach. The study found that 55% of FSWs were multidimensionally vulnerable with 48% of intensity in vulnerability. The overall value of multidimensional vulnerability index was 0.265. FSWs in Maharashtra were most vulnerable (82%). Lack of financial security contributed mostly to FSWs' vulnerability. Further, compared to less vulnerable FSWs, multidimensionally vulnerable ones were more to engage in behaviors that put them at risk such as inconsistent use of condoms with clients, alcohol consumption, engaging in anal sex with clients and experiencing sexually transmitted infections. Findings suggest that structural, social and financial vulnerabilities of FSWs need to be addressed concurrently.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Female
HIV Infections / epidemiology*
Humans
India / epidemiology
Odds Ratio
Risk Factors
Sex Workers / statistics & numerical data*
Sexual Behavior

Grants and funding

This paper was written as part of an evaluation grant funded to the Population Council by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (grant # OPP1110266). The donor had no role in study design, data collection, and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. YA who works with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation contributed to this paper on her individual capacity and opinion expressed in the paper does not necessarily reflect the official policy and position of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.