{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,8]],"date-time":"2026-03-08T07:50:55Z","timestamp":1772956255431,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":54,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,18]],"date-time":"2024-01-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1705536000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosglobalpublichealth.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLOS Glob Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Female commercial sex workers (FCSWs) bear higher rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among key populations. The association of structural determinants and STIs among FCSWs was not at the forefront of research earlier in Bangladesh. This study examined how structural factors correlate with the prevalence of STIs at physical\/social\/economic\/policy levels among FCSWs in Dhaka city. 495 FCSWs were screened for HIV, hepatitis B, and syphilis. Structural variables (Individual risks, high-risk sexual behaviors, work environments) were extracted from the previous multi-level study on FCSWs and analyzed in 2020 to determine whether macro\/micro-structural factors were associated with STIs. The prevalence of STIs was 43.6% (95% CI: 39.1%-48). Most (n = 207\/495) FCSWs were infected with Syphilis or Hepatitis B, only 1.8% had co-infection, and none was positive for HIV. Multiple logistic regression revealed that \u2019Individual risk\u2019 factors like age (\u226418 years, adjusted odds ratio = AOR = .28; 18.1\u201329.9 years, AOR = .57), years in the sex industry (&lt;1 year AOR = .15; 1\u20135 years, AOR = .39), and condoms as contraceptives (AOR = 2.7) were significantly associated with STIs. Considering \u2018High-risk behaviors\u2019 like monthly coitus with regular clients (AOR = .33), performing no anal sex ever (AOR = .03), and consistent condom use (AOR = .13) were less likely to be associated with STIs (P&lt;0.05), while the association of ever group sex with STIs reported to double (AOR = 2.1). \u2019Work environment\u2019 like sex on roads\/parks\/shrines\/markets (AOR = 2.6) and ever HIV-testing (AOR = 2.5) were significantly linked with STIs. However, micro-level factors like experiencing forced sex in the past year (AOR = 1.79) and condoms collected from hotel boys (AOR = .34) were significantly associated with STIs in the \u2018Hierarchical- model\u2019 with increasing model-power. \u2018Micro-structural\u2019 determinants predominated over \u2018Macro\/policy-level factors\u2019 and profoundly influenced STIs. FCSWs need comprehensive and integrated interventions to promote accurate condom use perception, eliminate risky sexual behaviors, and provide quality reproductive health care. Necessary steps at the policy level are urgently needed to decriminalize commercial sex work.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pgph.0002797","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,18]],"date-time":"2024-01-18T18:25:00Z","timestamp":1705602300000},"page":"e0002797","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pgph.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Social and structural determinants associated with the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among female commercial sex workers in Dhaka City, Bangladesh"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"4","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4632-9162","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Mahbuba","family":"Kawser","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Md. Nazrul Islam","family":"Khan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Kazi Jahangir","family":"Hossain","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Sheikh Nazrul","family":"Islam","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,18]]},"reference":[{"key":"pgph.0002797.ref001","unstructured":"ASP (AIDS\/STD Programme). Annual Report, 2018. Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), Government of the People\u2019s Republic of Bangladesh. 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