Substance abuse, treatment needs and access among female sex workers and non-sex workers in Pretoria, South Africa

Table 2 Sociodemographic characteristics, by sex worker status

Characteristic, Column %	Overall N = 506	Female sex workers^a N = 335	Non-Sex workers N = 171	χ² test^b p-values
Age Group (years)
18–25	47.4	44.8	52.6	0.094
26–55	52.6	55.2	47.4
Years of Education
Lower than 7^th grade	15.4	21.5	3.5	<0.001
7^th to 12^th grade	76.9	74.3	81.9
Higher than 12^th grade	7.7	4.2	14.6
Current Marital Status
Single, without a main sex partner	22.9	34.3	0.6	<0.001
Not living with a main sex partner	48.3	37.0	70.2
Living with a main sex partner	24.7	26.5	21.1
Married, separated, divorced, or widowed	4.2	2.1	8.2
Number of Children
None	33.8	34.3	29.8	0.186
One	33.4	31.0	39.2
Two or more	32.8	34.6	31.0
Residence or Living Space with Running Water, Yes	77.7	69.3	94.2	<0.001
Residence or Living Space with Electricity, Yes	59.3	43.3	90.6	<0.001
Family History of Alcohol or Drug Abuse ^c , Yes	70.2	66.0	78.4	0.004
History of Being Physically Abused ^d , Yes	53.8	63.3	35.1	<0.001
History of Being Sexually Abused ^e , Yes	30.8	37.6	17.5	<0.001
Age of First Alcohol Use
Before 18	46.4	45.4	48.5	0.500
18 or older	53.6	54.6	51.5
Age of First Marijuana, Dagga, or Ganja Use
Never used	44.9	32.5	69.0	<0.001
Before 18	19.0	20.3	16.4
18 or older	36.2	47.2	14.6

^a Female sex workers are defined as females who had traded sex for drugs, money, food, or other goods in the past 90 days.
^b Pearson chi-square test
NS: p > 0.05
^c Family history of alcohol or other drug abuse: Ever having problems with alcohol or other drug use by any biological family member of the respondent.
^d History of being physically abused: Ever being physically hurt by striking or beating to the point that the respondent had bruises, cuts, or broken bones.
^e History of being sexually abused: Ever being pressured or forced to participate in sexual acts against the respondent's will.

ISSN: 1747-597X