Patterns of risk behaviour and condom use among commercial
sex workers (CSWs) have been heavily investigated in recent
years. But what is known about the social context of these
women's lives? What factors prevent them from having safer sex?
Researchers from Population Services International investigate
the lives of CSWs in Lusaka, Zambia.
The researchers interviewed 14 nightclub-based and six
street-based CSWs. There are relatively few employment
opportunities for women in Zambia and marriage is still key to
economic survival. Inability to form a long-term partnership or
the collapse of a marriage can have disastrous financial
consequences for women and some may be pushed into sex work.
This is illegal and highly stigmatised. CSWs are subject to
frequent police raids and the risk of violence from clients or
members of the public. The lack of a supportive social
environment for these women may reduce their ability to adopt
effective safe behaviours.
Eight of the women have been married at some point and one is
still married. Eleven have dependent children. Several of the
nightclub-based workers are motivated by a desire to find a
husband, whereas street-based CSWs see their activities purely
as work. Other findings include:
- Low educational level and limited employment
opportunities are common reasons for taking up sex work.
- Street-based CSWs regard harassment by clients and
police as part of their daily routine.
- Sex workers feel stigmatised by their work and several
have been rejected by their families.
- The women are aware of HIV and sexually transmitted
infections (STIs). Street-based CSWs and those with children
are more likely to insist on condom use than childless or
nightclub-based workers.
- Fear of being stigmatised as having HIV or of losing a
regular client by refusing to have unsafe sex are both
barriers to condom use. Women generally expect more money
for sex without a condom.
- CSWs rely mainly on herbal remedies to prevent or cure
STIs.
The results of this study suggest that HIV-prevention
programmes may have more success in encouraging CSWs and their
clients to adopt healthy practices if they:
- challenge the negative stereotypes concerning commercial
sex in Zambian society
- encourage public acknowledgement of the role of CSWs and
the associated risks of infection
- strengthen peer support networks among nightclub-based
CSWs to assist the development of a professional identity
more conducive to implementing safer sexual behaviours
- provide voluntary counselling and affordable testing for
HIV to encourage participation in peer education
interventions and induce behaviour change.
Source(s):
‘HIV risk among street and nightclub- based sex workers in
Lusaka, Zambia: implications for HIV prevention interventions’
by S. Agha and M. C. Nchima, PSI Research Division Working Paper
38, Population Services International, Washington DC (2001)
Funded by: USAID; UK Department for International
Development
id21 Research Highlight: 08 May 2002
Further Information:
Sohail Agha or Mwaba Chulu Nchima
Population Services International
1120 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington
DC 20036
USA
Tel: +1 202 785 0072
Fax: +1 202 785 0120
Contact the contributor:
generalinfo@psiwash.org
Population Services
International
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