HIV and Violence among Female Sex Workers in India: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Female sex workers (FSW) in India are highly stigmatised and discriminated against by the society. Additionally, this population faces public health issues, such as HIV, mental health challenges, and violence at work. Despite interventions being put in place, female sex workers continue to experience high HIV prevalence and violence. A scoping review of peer-reviewed articles was conducted by searching PubMed, PubMed Central, Embase, and CINAHL Plus using keywords. Using inclusion and exclusion criteria following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) standards, the identified papers were screened. Twenty-four articles were selected for this review after critical appraisal. The data extracted from these articles regarding HIV and violence among female sex workers (FSWs) in India were analysed using narrative analysis. Most of the research looked at the prevalence of sexual violence and HIV infections and the factors contributing to these conditions. At the same time, the rest focused on mood disorders (e.g., depression) among FSWs. Client and intimate partner violence were common occurrences for FSWs. HIV infection was more prevalent among women who were forced into sex slavery than among those who entered sex work voluntarily. The increased HIV infections associated with sexual violence have become a crucial issue.