# Violence against female sex workers in the state of Piauí, Brazil – a cross-sectional study

## TL;DR

This study examines the prevalence of violence against female sex workers in Piauí, Brazil, and identifies risk factors to inform public health and human rights policies.

## Contribution

The study provides new evidence on violence exposure and its risk factors among female sex workers in Piauí, Brazil.

## Key findings

- Approximately 50% of participants reported exposure to some form of violence, with physical violence being the most prevalent.
- Educational attainment, marital status, having children, and being pregnant were significantly associated with violence exposure.
- The study highlights the need for public policies promoting education and sexual health awareness to reduce violence.

## Abstract

By quantitatively assessing the exposure of female sex workers to violence in Piauí, Brazil, this study aimed to identify associated risk factors and contribute evidence-based public health strategies and human rights policies, advancing health and gender equality. This was a quantitative, observational, analytical, cross-sectional study. A structured questionnaire was administered to 218 female sex workers, aged 19 to 57 years (mean age = 31.76 ± 8.33 years), who were actively working in the state of Piauí, Brazil. The questionnaire addressed demographic characteristics, work-related practices, and exposure to psychological, physical, and sexual violence. Odds ratios (ORs) for the association between variables and the exposure to violence were calculated. Most participants had incomplete higher education (54.2%), self-identified as Black (42.7%), were single (77.4%), heterosexual (89.8%), and mothers (71.2%). Approximately 50% of participants reported being exposed to some form of violence, with physical violence being the most prevalent (75.7%), followed by psychological (43.0%) and sexual violence (12.2%). The odds of exposure to violence were inversely associated with educational attainment (p = 0.026) and were significantly related to marital status (p = 0.031), having children (p < 0.001), and being pregnant (p = 0.001). These findings demonstrate the vulnerability of female sex workers to violence in the State of Piauí, Brazil, and the need for tailored public policies that could also benefit society as a whole, such as promotion to scholar education and sexual health awareness.