Perceived health needs of inner-city street prostitutes: a preliminary study.
OBJECTIVE
To survey inner-city prostitutes' perceived health needs.


METHODS
One hundred forty street prostitutes in Washington DC, were surveyed to determine their perceived health needs, in addition to levels of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).


RESULTS
The final sample comprised 100 individuals, representing 3 subgroups of prostitutes, female, male, and transgender male. Major health needs included protection from physical and sexual assault, social support, counseling, addictions treatment, job training, and medical care. Over 42% of the population was identified as meeting established criteria for PTSD.


CONCLUSIONS
Effective program development for inner-city prostitutes needs to acknowledge the presence of distinct subpopulations and the pervasive influence of PTSD on health status.
Valera
R J
RJ
Department of Health Education, University of Maryland, College Park 20742, USA.
Sawyer
R G
RG
Schiraldi
G R
GR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004219:District of Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006304:Health Status; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D011204:Poverty Areas; D011314:Preventive Health Services; D011477:Sex Work / Q000523:psychology; D012947:Social Work; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data