Table 1 Socio-demographic, interpersonal/social environment and physical-environment characteristics of sex-for- crack exchanges among a cohort of street-based female SWs in Vancouver, Canada
Characteristic | Total (%) | Sex-for-crack exchanges | p- value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Yes ( %) | No (%) | |||
(n = 206) | (n = 101) | (n = 105) | ||
Socio-demographic | ||||
Age (med, IQR) | 35 (25–40) | 37 (28–41) | 0.091 | |
Aboriginal ancestry | 100 (48.5) | 57 (57.00) | 43 (43.00) | 0.175 |
Caucasian | 106 (51.5) | 48 (45.28) | 58 (54.72) | – |
Age first used crack (median, IQR) | 20 (16–27) | 21 (16–30) | – | |
Individual level- drug risks | ||||
Cocaine injection* | 73 (35.40) | 46 (22.30) | 27 (13.11) | 0.050 |
Heroin injection* | 104 (50.49) | 62 (59.62) | 42 (40.38) | 0.043 |
Crystal Meth injection/non-injection* | 24 (11.65) | 6 (25.00) | 18 (75.00) | 0.186 |
Intensive crack use (>10 rocks/day)* | 57 (27.67) | 25 (43.86) | 32 (56.14) | 0.021 |
Interpersonal/ social environment | ||||
Used drug with regular client* | 72 (35.00) | 41 (56.94) | 31 (43.06) | 0.110 |
Receptive sharing of used syringe * | 16 (7.77) | 10 (62.50) | 6 (37.50) | 0.003 |
Shared used pipe with regular client/john* | 95 (46.12) | 59 (62.11) | 36 (37.89) | <0.001 |
Higher number of clients (>10)* | 71 (37.60) | 42 (22.20) | 29 (15.34) | <0.001 |
Inconsistent condom use with client (for vaginal sex)* | 19 (9.22) | 12 (63.16) | 7 (36.84) | 0.031 |
Intimate partner uses drugs | 74 (35.92) | 38 (51.35) | 36 (48.65) | 0.352 |
Intimate partner provides drugs | 55 (26.70) | 30 (54.55) | 25 (45.45) | 0.260 |
Economic dependence on intimate partner | 11 (5.34) | 6 (54.55) | 5 (45.45) | 0.490 |
Physical/sexual violence by client* | 45 (21.84) | 29 (64.44) | 16 (35.56) | 0.002 |
Physical environment | ||||
Smoke crack in groups with strangers (e.g., crack houses, alleys)* | 165 (80.10) | 89 (53.94) | 76 (46. 06) | 0.001 |
Homeless* | 88 (42.7) | 50 (56.82 | 38 (43.18) | <0.003 |
Work in alleyways, industrial areas* | 134 (65.00) | 69 (51.49) | 65 (48.51) | <0.001 |
Services clients in public spaces* | 141 (68.45) | 74 (52.48) | 67 (47.52) | 0.001 |