Sex workers are adults who have consensual sex in exchange for money or gifts, either regularly or occasionally.
They can be any gender, but data and services for sex workers often ignore male and transgender sex workers.
Sex work is criminalised in many countries which makes sex workers fearful of accessing HIV services.
Many sex workers are fearful of going to clinics to get condoms in case their occupation is revealed. Others are scared to carry them in case the police arrest them claiming having condoms is proof of being a sex worker. For some, it can be difficult to negotiate condom use with clients who prefer condomless sex. This can be an attractive offer when a client offers more money or gifts if they don’t use a condom.
Unless a condom is used every time, having multiple partners increases the risk of exposure to HIV via unprotected sex.
Injecting drugs is more common among sex workers than the general population. This adds another route of potential HIV transmission.
Sex work is often stigmatised and viewed as morally wrong. This results in sex workers being subjected to higher levels of violence which increases their risk of HIV.
Street-based sex workers receive fewer HIV services than brothel-based sex workers. This is because it’s easier to provide services in a venue, rather than on the street.
Sex work is often illegal, so sex workers have to provide their services underground where they are more likely to experience violence.
Professional service people like healthcare workers, the police and other law enforcement agents are often discriminatory towards sex workers. This prevents sex workers from accessing HIV services and reporting crimes.
Involve sex workers in the design and delivery of HIV services. This way the service is more likely to meet the needs of sex workers.
Don’t just provide services in established sex work venues such as brothels. If there is a popular place that sex workers use to find clients, go there to provide HIV services.
Provide sensitisation training for healthcare staff to help reduce judgmental, stigmatising and negative attitudes towards sex workers, so that they are more likely to come back again.
Have condoms available at the same place that sex workers access other HIV services to make it easier for them to always have condoms to hand.
Many HIV infections could be avoided if sex workers could access PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) before they are exposed to HIV, or PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) after they are exposed to HIV.
Not all sex workers are the same. They can be female, male or transgender, young or old, rich or poor. Think about each of their intersecting needs so that HIV services for sex workers are relevant.
Sex workers would be more likely to access HIV and police services if there wasn’t a constant threat of being criminalised. This would also protect sex workers from violence and abuse.
If police harassment stopped, sex workers would not have their condoms confiscated, they wouldn’t need to provide their services in underground places away from authorities and they would be able to report crimes.
Community beliefs and social norms that view sex work as wrong prevent sex workers from receiving the health services they need. Ending stigma would help reduce sex workers’ risk of HIV.
Sex work is work and needs to be recognised as such so that sex workers can receive workers’ rights such as health and social safety nets.
No-one should experience violence because of the work they do. Laws that protect sex workers from violence would enable them to access health and police services.
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