title: Sexual and reproductive health behaviors of female sex workers in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to document sexual and reproductive health (SRH) practices among female sex workers (FSWs) including abortion, pregnancy, use of maternal healthcare services and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) with the aim of developing recommendations for action.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 731 FSWs aged between 15 and 49 years were surveyed using a stratified sampling in Dhaka, Bangladesh. A workshop with 23 participants consisted of policy makers, researchers, program implementers was conducted to formulate recommendations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About 61.3% of 731 FSWs reported SRH-related experiences in the past one year, including abortion (15.5%), ongoing pregnancy (9.0%), childbirth (8.3%) or any symptoms of STIs (41.6%). Among FSWs who had an abortion (n = 113), the most common methods included menstrual regulation through manual vacuum aspiration (47.8%), followed by Dilation and Curettage procedure (31%) and oral medicine from pharmacies (35.4%). About 57.5% of 113 cases reported post abortion complications. Among FSWs with delivery in the past year (n = 61), 27.7% attended the recommended four or more antenatal care visits and more than half did not have any postnatal visit. Adopting sustainable and effective strategies to provide accessible and adequate SRH services for FSWs was prioritized by workshop participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was substantial unmet need for SRH care among FSWs in urban areas in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Therefore, it is important to integrate SRH services for FSWs in the formal healthcare system or integration of abortion and maternal healthcare services within existing HIV prevention services.
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.|Research to policy Limited, Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Tasnuva
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6819-8370
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wahed
authors.affiliation: Maternal and Child Health Division, icddr,b, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Anadil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.affiliation: HIV/AIDS Sector, Save the Children, Gulshan, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Salima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sultana
authors.affiliation: University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Nazmul
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Ratana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Somrongthong
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D001723:Birth Rate; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008598:Menstruation; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D060728:Reproductive Health; D034121:Reproductive Health Services; D060386:Sex Workers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult