Table 3

Unadjusted and adjusted associations with physical/sexual violence from clients, depression and anxiety among off-street sex workers

Physical or sexual violence from clients in last 6 monthsDepression or anxiety (cut-point >5)
UnadjustedAdjustedUnadjustedAdjusted
Individual-level factors GEE OR (95% CI) GEE aOR (95% CI) GEE OR (95% CI) GEE aOR (95% CI)
Age ≥30 years*0.40 (0.19 to 0.83)0.48 (0.21 to 1.13)0.36 (0.18 to 0.72)0.33 (0.13 to 0.86)
People of colour (vs white)1.00 (0.39 to 2.60)0.65 (0.28 to 1.51)
Bisexual, homosexual, any other term (vs heterosexual)1.29 (0.64 to 2.57)2.03 (1.03 to 4.01)
Unstable residency status (vs permanent residency/UK national)†1.67 (0.84 to 3.31)3.19 (1.36 to 7.49)0.41 (0.20 to 0.85)
Primary or secondary education only (vs further education)1.11 (0.56 to 2.18)0.89 (0.49 to 1.61)
Alcohol or drug use‡2.85 (1.36 to 5.94)3.16 (1.26 to 7.92)2.19 (1.13 to 4.24)2.19 (0.91 to 5.28)
Any intimate partner violence ever3.70 (1.61 to 8.47)3.77 (1.30 to 11.00)2.92 (1.35 to 6.31)
Physical/Sexual violence from clients in last 6 monthsNot included2.12 (1.18 to 3.80)
Limited/Severely limited by disability (vs no disability)Not included§6.86 (3.28 to 14.37)5.83 (2.34 to 14.51)
Workplace factors
Duration in sex work ≥5 years*0.74 (0.38 to 1.45)Not included*
Hours worked per day >8 hours1.98 (1.08 to 3.63)Not included§
Always work alone0.79 (0.38 to 1.60)1.12 (0.62 to 2.01)
Always work with CCTV0.53 (0.26 to 1.10)Not included§
Always screen and refuse clients0.36 (0.17 to 0.76)0.36 (0.15 to 0.87)Not included§§
Always have security/maid0.44 (0.16 to 1.21)Not included§
Always work check customer’s number with a safety service1.31 (0.56 to 3.03)Not included§
Structural variables—law enforcement¶
Ever arrested by police0.96 (0.46 to 2.01)0.53 (0.19 to 1.45)2.36 (1.29 to 4.32)
Ever had items confiscated7.35 (2.02 to 26.81)4.59 (0.99 to 21.20)
Structural variables—other
Homeless in the last 4 weeks††1.75 (0.71 to 4.32)2.53 (1.00 to 6.39)
Accessed sex worker support project in last 6 months0.84 (0.40 to 1.84)1.23 (0.69 to 2.19)
Unmet mental health support need in last 6 months1.66 (0.81 to 3.39)5.99 (2.61 to 13.72)3.08 (1.15 to 8.23)
In arrears (at time of survey)1.38 (0.68 to 2.79)2.12 (1.23 to 3.67)
Difficulty paying usual expenses3.14 (1.50 to 6.58)3.66 (1.64 to 8.18)2.52 (1.29 to 4.93)
Ever evictedNot included§3.66 (1.48 to 9.05)3.99 (1.23 to 12.92)
Sensitivity analyses**
Ever detained by immigration officers2.22 (0.75 to 6.60)5.06 (1.43 to 17.93)
  • – denotes variables excluded in adjusted models not significant in adjusted models at p<0.05 and not a priori confounders.

  • *Age or duration of sex work were selected as a priori confounders on the basis of quasi-AIC (QIC) evaluations.

  • †Unstable defined as overseas national/asylum seeker/unknown or illegal migration status (vs permanent residency/UK national/settled status).

  • ‡Alcohol use or drug use defined as (AUDIT-C score of 5 or more indicating increasing risk) or used drugs in the last month.

  • §Not considered to be a potential confounder.

  • ¶Multivariable models adjust for one policing variable.

  • **Sensitivity analyses tested all policing variables in separate models adjusted for the variables shown excluding other policing variables. Only those with significant effect sizes (p<0.05) in adjusted analyses are presented.

  • ††Homelessness defined as sleeping rough or living in unstable accommodation (eg, parent’s or friend’s home, sheltered or homeless accommodation).