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Culture, Health & Sexuality
An International Journal for Research, Intervention and Care
Volume 24, 2022 - Issue 5
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Articles

Solidarity, support and competition among communities of female and male sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya

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Pages 627-641 | Received 15 May 2020, Accepted 11 Jan 2021, Published online: 05 Mar 2021
 

Abstract

Female and male sex workers are at elevated risk for HIV infection, psychological distress and other adverse health outcomes. It is therefore important to understand how sex workers’ social relationships with one another might inform psychosocial support services for this population. We conducted semi-structured interviews to examine the formation and nature of social networks of 25 female and 25 male sex workers recruited from bars and clubs in Mombasa, Kenya. Relationships between and among female and male participants were often formed based on a mutual understanding of the challenging nature of sex work. Both groups described their relationships in terms of friendship and brotherhood/sisterhood and highlighted the following benefits of sex worker social networks: economic benefits, access to information about HIV/STIs and protection, and support against violence from clients and law enforcement agents. Social networks were often threatened by competition for clients and hence could result in conflict. However, sex workers explained that their sense of solidarity and reliance on one another for health, protection and economic well-being helped minimise conflict. The social networks of sex workers could therefore be used to leverage or optimise access to HIV prevention and care.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the US National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Grant (R01-MH103034; PI, Joanne E. Mantell, MS, MSPH, PhD) and the US NIMH center Grant (P30-MH43520; PI: Robert H. Remien, PhD).

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