Gender-based Violence Among Sex Workers in Abuja, Nigeria: A Mixedmethods Cross-sectional Study

Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a major public health and human rights challenge worldwide, disproportionately affecting marginalized populations such as sex workers. In Nigeria, criminalization, stigma, and socio-economic vulnerability increase the risk of violence among sex workers, yet evidence from the Federal Capital Territory remains limited. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, typologies, determinants, and health impacts of gender-based violence among sex workers in Abuja, Nigeria. A mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted among 455 sex workers recruited from Gwagwalada, Bwari, and Abuja Municipal Area Council using cluster sampling techniques. Quantitative data were collected through structured interviewer-administered questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, chisquare tests, and multivariable logistic regression. Qualitative data were obtained through focus group discussions and analyzed thematically. The majority of respondents were females (74.94%), aged 25–34 years (31.42%), and engaged primarily in street-based sex work (37.38%). High prevalence rates of sexual violence (90.11%), physical violence (89.01%), and emotional/psychological violence (86.81%) were reported. Younger age (18–24 years), homelessness, societal stigma, criminalization of sex work, and lack of secure work environments were significant predictors of GBV (p < 0.05). Most respondents reported substantial adverse physical (83.52%) and mental health (81.32%) consequences resulting from violence. Gender-based violence among sex workers in Abuja is alarmingly prevalent and is strongly influenced by structural inequalities, social exclusion, and legal vulnerabilities. Comprehensive interventions involving legal reforms, social protection programs, mental health services, and community-based protection mechanisms are urgently needed to reduce violence and improve the well-being of sex workers.