Reproductive health and desire for children among young female sex workers in Bangladesh brothels

• Published in: Health care for women international Vol. 40; no. 7-9; pp. 981 - 994
• Main Authors: Yam, Eileen A., Sultana, Nargis, Hossain, Tarik, Zieman, Brady, Roy, Shongkour, Yasmin, Reena, Sadiq, Najmus, Hossain, Sharif M.I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 20.08.2019; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescent; Bangladesh - epidemiology; Brothels; Childbearing; Contraceptives; Desire; Family planning; Family Planning Services - standards; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Marriage; Medical research; Nursing; Parents & parenting; Pregnancy; Reproductive health; Reproductive Health - standards; Sex industry; Sex workers; Sex Workers - psychology; Sociodemographics; Socioeconomic Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Womens health; Workers; Young Adult; Young women; Bangladesh
• ISSN: 0739-9332; 1096-4665
• DOI: 10.1080/07399332.2019.1623801

Globally, reproductive health research among female sex workers (FSWs) often focuses on pregnancy prevention, but many women who sell sex aspire to have children in the future. In Bangladesh, where early marriage and parenthood is the norm, we examine reproductive histories and childbearing desires of young women who sell sex in brothels. We interviewed 1061 FSWs aged 18 to 24 in eight brothels in three Bangladesh divisions. Interviewers elicited information on sociodemographic characteristics, contraceptive use, pregnancy history, and childbearing desire. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to examine correlates of wanting to have a child within 24 months.