Table 1

Descriptive characteristics among FSWs in Ukraine (n=4906)

Variables	n	%
Age (years)
14–18	132	2.7
19–23	1039	21.2
24–28	1497	30.5
29–33	1191	24.3
34+	1047	21.3
Median (IQR)	28 (20;38)
Age at first sexual intercourse (years)
6–13	356	7.3
14–18	4252	86.7
19–25	259	5.3
Median (IQR)	16 (15;19)
Missing	40	0.8
Age at first sex work (years)
12–13	9	0.2
14–18	1242	25.3
19–23	2227	45.4
24–28	1067	21.7
29–33	252	5.1
34+	70	1.4
Median (IQR)	20 (14;26)
Missing	42	0.8
Education level
<9 years of schooling	105	2.1
9 years of schooling	563	11.5
11 years of secondary school	2283	46.5
Vocational school	1621	33.0
University degree	334	6.8
Marital status
Married living with husband	214	4.4
Married living with other SP	137	2.8
Married living alone	405	8.3
Unmarried living with SP	922	18.8
Unmarried living alone	3228	65.8
Employment status (besides sex work)
Schoolgirl/student	351	7.2
Have casual earnings	1414	28.8
Unemployed*	1997	40.7
Housekeeper	536	10.9
Incapacitated†	24	0.5
Have a permanent job	565	11.5
Missing	19	0.4
Condom use with last paying partner
No	150	3.1
Yes	4753	96.9
Missing	3	0.1
Condom use with last non-paying partner
No	967	19.7
Yes	922	18.8
I had no such partner	3018	61.5
Alcohol use in the last 30 days
Every day	1171	23.9
More than once a week	2274	46.4
Less than once a week	1114	22.7
Never	347	7.1
Drug use ever in life
Yes	545	11.1
I used before, now I don't	847	17.3
No, never used drugs	3504	71.4
Missing	10	0.2
Injection drug use in the last 12 months
Yes	292	6.0
No	4614	94.0
Sex work venue: outdoors
No	2402	49.0
Yes	2504	51.0
Sex work venue: indoors
No	2315	47.2
Yes	2591	52.8
Sex work venue: phone/internet
No	3286	67.0
Yes	1620	33.0

*Unemployed by official records as sex work is not considered to be official occupation and cannot give official employment status (recognised by the government of Ukraine).
†Incapacitated—those who are receiving social security because of the limited employment due to disability.
FSWs, female sex workers; SP, sexual partner.