SEX TRADING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AMONG WOMEN RECRUITED FROM THESTREETS OF HARLEM

Objectives. This study examines the relationship between sex trading a nd psychological distress and the implications of that relationship fo r prevention of human immunodeficiency virus among a sample of young w omen recruited from the streets of Harlem. Methods. Interviews were co nducted with 346 predominantly drug-using women, aged 18 to 29 years, of whom 176 had exchanged sex for money or drugs in the previous 30 da ys and were categorized as ''sex traders.'' Psychological distress was measured by using the Brief Symptom Inventory. Results. Sex traders s cored significantly higher than non-sex traders on the General Severit y Index and on eight of the nine subscales of the Brief Symptom Invent ory Multivariate analysis indicated that after adjustments were made f or age; ethnicity; pregnancy; recent rape; perceived risk for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; current, regular crack use; and current, r egular alcohol use, sex traders scored 0.240 units higher on the Gener al Severity Index than non-sex traders. Conclusions. Poor mental healt h and drug dependence may undermine the motivation and ability of thes e sex traders to adopt safer sex behavior. Therefore, interventions ne ed to be integrated with mental health services and drug treatment to reduce risk behavior in this population.