Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
TURKIYE KLINIKLERI TIP BILIMLERI DERGISI, sa.5, ss.1167-1178, 2011 (SCI-Expanded)
Objective: We conducted a descriptive study to determine various violence forms with their impacts on registered female sex workers. Material and Methods: We surveyed 124 registered female sex workers of a mean age of 41.6 +/- 9.1 years, at obligatory periodic examination in the Departments of Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Diseases at Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Hospital. The researchers developed and validated a questionnaire, based on relevant literature, and administered it to participants via face to face surveying approach. The questionnaire contained items both on the features on socio-demographic and questions on the levels of psychological, physical, sexual, financial and public violence among female sex workers. Results: The most common violence types were psychological (insulting), physical (slapping/punching), public (social isolation), sexual (forced unprotected intercourse) and financial (confiscation of the earnings). The main perpetrators of violence were mostly clients, relatives, and pimps. Conclusion: Female sex workers seemed to be exposed to all kinds of violence. Violence affected women's life by destruction of self respect, damaged self-esteem, threatened the safety of themselves and family members, abolished/assimilated their safety, economic independence and individual freedom, and disturbed social aspect of their lives.