Reduction of Health-Related Risks Among Female Commercial Sex Workers: Learning From Their Life and Working Experiences

Abstract

We performed this study to determine both positive and negative impacts on the health of sex workers working on the street. We conducted this study using key informant and focus group interviews in bars and streets in Mozambique. The interviewed sex workers were aware about the risks and protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and they consistently used condoms. Most suffered from harmful behavior, including violence and assault by both customers and other commercial sex workers. We found that sex workers’ own skills and knowledge acquired through experience potentially could be developed into life skills that could save and protect their lives.

We thank the Toyota Foundation for providing financial support to defray the costs of this study. We are also grateful to the commercial sex workers for participating in this study and to all of our collaborators for their valuable contributions.