Researchers have found that suicide accounted for 1 in 10 deaths among female sex workers in eight low- and middle-income countries. The study is thought to be the first of its kind.
The paper’s lead author was Dr. Wendy Macias-Konstantopoulos, associate professor of emergency medicine at Harvard Medical School.
“Our findings underscore the calls for urgent evidence-based interventions to address the social vulnerabilities and mental health needs of this marginalized population of women,” Macias-Konstantopoulos said.
The women reported 2,112 deaths among other female sex workers occurring during the preceding five years. Of these deaths, 288 (13.5%) were said to be [BD1] due to suicide. Of these, 178 (61.8%), occurred either during pregnancy or within the 12 months following delivery. And unlike what is seen in high-income countries, where maternal suicides usually occur after the baby is born, more than half (58%) of these suicides occurred during pregnancy.
Source: Maternal suicide rate high among sex workers – UW Medicine | Newsroom