Risky Sexual Behavior and Its Association With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Stressful Life Events, and Other Psychiatric Correlates Among Women in Sex Work

Abstract

Introduction: Numerous psychiatric disorders are known to be associated with risky sexual behavior (RSB). Depression or substance use is known to be higher in those who are in sex work. Recent literature has also described the association between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and RSB. However, the association between ADHD and RSB among women in sex work (WSW) is relatively unknown. In this background, this study was conducted to study the prevalence of ADHD and associated psychiatric correlates among WSW and also to study the prevalence of RSB in this population. Methodology: A sample of 96 women who were in sex work and consented to be the part of the study were recruited. They were later administered Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale to screen for adult ADHD symptoms, Wender Utah Rating Scale to retrospectively look into a childhood diagnosis of ADHD, MINI neuropsychiatric interview for DSM 4-TR psychiatric diagnoses, HIV Risk Behavior Scale to study RSB, Beck’s Depression Inventory to quantify depression, and Presumptive Stressful Life Events Scale to quantify the presence of stressful life events. Results: The prevalence of Adult ADHD in the sample was 32.20 % (n = 31). Individuals with ADHD had a higher prevalence of RSB (P = .02), comorbid depression (P = .04), presence of stressful life events (P = .001), and a higher prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (P = .03). Conclusion: The prevalence of ADHD is high among WSW (32%). Risky sexual behavior in this population could be probably due to higher prevalence of associated psychiatric conditions including depression, higher presence of stressful life events, and ADHD, the association which is less understood. There is a need to replicate these findings in larger samples to study ADHD and its relationship with risky sexual behavior among WSW.