COVID-19 Prevention and Protecting Sex Workers: A Call to Action

Singer, Randi; Crooks, Natasha; Johnson, Amy K.; Lutnick, Alexandra; Matthews, Alicia K.

doi:10.1007/s10508-020-01849-x

Cited by 51 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…With loss of income accompanied by a lack of access to government relief, and deteriorating health and social conditions, it is unsurprising that sex workers have continued to work amidst the pandemic, exposing them to further risks of sexual compromise, sexually transmitted infections, and COVID-19. Many scholars and policymakers had made calls to action earlier on in the pandemic to highlight these exacerbating inequities (Adebisi et al, 2020 ; Lam, 2020a , b , c ; Platt et al, 2020 ), and more recent studies across the world have validated these concerns—that sex workers are facing poor access to health services, and need to continue working to survive (Callander et al, 2020 ; Gichuna et al, 2020 ; Singer, Crooks, Johnson, Lutnick, & Matthews, 2020 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) on the Health and Social Needs of Sex Workers in Singapore

Tan

Ho²,

Sherqueshaa³

et al. 2021

Arch Sex Behav

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We evaluated the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the sex work industry and assessed how it has impacted the health and social conditions of sex workers in Singapore. We conducted a sequential exploratory mixed methods study amidst the COVID-19 pandemic from April to October 2020, including in-depth interviews with 24 stakeholders from the sex work industry and surveyor-administered structured surveys with 171 sex workers. COVID-19 had a substantial impact on sex workers' income. The illegality of sex work, stigma, and the lack of work documentation were cited as exclusionary factors for access to alternative jobs or government relief. Sex workers had experienced an increase in food insecurity (57.3%), housing insecurity (32.8%), and sexual compromise (8.2%), as well as a decrease in access to medical services (16.4%). Being transgender female was positively associated with increased food insecurity (aPR = 1.23, 95% CI [1.08, 1.41]), housing insecurity (aPR = 1.28, 95% CI [1.03, 1.60]), and decreased access to medical services (aPR = 1.74, 95% CI [1.23, 2.46]); being a venue-based sex worker was positively associated with increased food insecurity (aPR = 1.46, 95% CI [1.00, 2.13]), and being a non-Singaporean citizen or permanent resident was positively associated with increased housing insecurity (aPR = 2.59, 95% CI [1.73, 3.85]). Our findings suggest that COVID-19 has led to a loss of income for sex workers, greater food and housing insecurity, increased sexual compromise, and reduced access to medical services for sex workers. A lack of access to government relief among sex workers exacerbated such conditions. Efforts to address such population health inequities should be implemented.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) on the Health and Social Needs of Sex Workers in Singapore

Tan

Ho²,

Sherqueshaa³

et al. 2021

Arch Sex Behav

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“… 3 , 6 Sex workers are among the vulnerable populations disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic globally. 7 , 11 , 17–20 , 35 To better understand how COVID-19 infection is affecting FCSW in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, where this trade is pervasive, our team assessed their KAP, and potentials for community transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Commercial Sex Work During Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) Era in the Niger Delta Region: Relationships Between Knowledge, Preventive Practice, and Transmission Potential

Avwioro¹,

Egwunyenga²,

Adjekuko³

et al. 2021

IJWH

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Background Sex workers, like others, are facing economic hardships and anxiety about their health and safety due to coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), an infectious disease caused by a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Universally, most sex work has largely reduced, moved online, or undertaken covertly because of lockdown measures and need for social distancing to break the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. However, the ability of sex workers to protect themselves against COVID-19 depends on their individual and interpersonal behaviors and work environment. In this study, we sought to determine the relationships between COVID-19 knowledge, awareness and prevention practice (KAP) among female commercial sex workers (FCSW) in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria to inform the development of prevention interventions for this vulnerable population. Methods Data used in this study were obtained from a cross-sectional survey of 604 FCSW operating in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. We used descriptive and inferential statistics to assess their socio-demographic characteristics and COVID-19 KAP adopted against the novel coronavirus. Latent class analysis was used to systematically classify participants’ attributes and behaviors into the most likely distinct clusters or risk groups. Results The majority of the FCSW were singles (86.8%) of childbearing ages, 21–35 years (86.2%), with almost three quarters (73.2%) of them having sex with 3–4 clients per day during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, almost three quarters of the participants had both good knowledge and awareness about COVID-19 but less than half of them (41.1%) implemented good practice to prevent the spread of the disease. However, a highly significant and positive relationship was recorded between COVID-19 knowledge ( r =0.90, p <0.0001) and awareness ( r =0.65, p <0.0001), and preventive practice of FCSW, respectively. About 89.1% of the participants were not very familiar with the symptoms of COVID-19 (p<0.0001). Only 10.9% of the FCSW indicated that they wear facemask at all times, while 45.2% of them do not wear facemask during sexual intercourse with their clients ( p <0.0001). Based on the FCSW attributes and behaviors, we identified three distinct clusters or risk groups (p<0.0001), namely, low-risk takers (Cluster 1), high-risk takers (Cluster 2) and very high-risk takers (Cluster 3) with latent class prevalence rates (γ c ) of 41.13% (95% CI: 37.26–45.10), 33.17% (95% CI: 29.53–37.02) and 25.71% (95% CI: 22.38–29.34), respectively. Conclusion Sex work has high transmission potentials for SARS-CoV-2 because of its operational nature, which does not permit social distancing, and thus, renders certain preventive measures practically ineffective. This is a major c...

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“…Among people who use substances, there have been unique challenges posed by the pandemic including access to safe drug supply, clean needles and harm reduction supplies, and opioid substitution treatment (Vasylyeva et al, 2020 ). One subpopulation of individuals at high risk of poor COVID-19 health outcomes, but rarely acknowledged, includes people who trade sex for money, goods, or other services (Platt et al, 2020 ; Singer et al, 2020 ; Vasylyeva et al, 2020 ). Broadly, this includes individuals who engage in commercial sex work, transactional or exchange sex, and survival sex, who will be referred to as “sex workers” and/or “street-based sex workers” throughout the rest of the manuscript.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several commentaries have attempted to raise awareness around the potential impact of COVID-19 on street-based sex workers; however, the impact of COVID-19 on this population is still unknown (Platt et al, 2020 ; Singer et al, 2020 ). With respect to other conditions of public health significance, street-based sex workers have higher rates of HIV/STIs, substance use disorders, and mental health conditions (Bauermeister et al, 2017 ; Biello et al, 2014 ; Puri et al, 2017 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex Workers and Syndemics: A Population Vulnerable to HIV and COVID-19

et al. 2021

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COVID-19 has disproportionately affected vulnerable populations across the U.S. Street-based sex workers are one vulnerable population whose health and impact of COVID-19 have been understudied to date. The goal of this study was to evaluate findings from a community needs assessment with street-based sex workers on impact of COVID-19 on health behaviors and social circumstances. A brief survey was developed at a community-based harm reduction and recovery services organization. Surveys were administered by peer specialists to street-based sex workers during street outreach in April and May 2020. A total of 46 surveys were analyzed. Many individuals reported continuing to do sex work and use substances during the COVID pandemic. Slightly more than a quarter of individuals ( n = 13; 28.3%) indicated using personal protective equipment while doing sex work and described challenges to using precautions when working with clients. Individuals had used marijuana ( n = 32, 71.1%), cocaine ( n = 17, 39.5%), prescription stimulants ( n = 9, 21.4%), methamphetamines ( n = 5, 11.9%), prescription opioids ( n = 12, 27.3%), street opioids ( n = 12, 27.3%), sedatives ( n = 11, 25.0%), hallucinogens ( n = 3, 6.8%), inhalants ( n = 3, 7.0%), or some other substance ( n = 4, 8.7%) in the past 30 days. About half (48.8%) reported that COVID-19 had a major impact on their lives. This study is among the first to characterize the impact of COVID-19 on street-based sex workers. From a public health standpoint, this group also represents a high-priority population given their vulnerability and close contact with others, which increases the potential for community spread.

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COVID-19 Prevention and Protecting Sex Workers: A Call to Action

Cited by 51 publications

References 16 publications

The Impact of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) on the Health and Social Needs of Sex Workers in Singapore

The Impact of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) on the Health and Social Needs of Sex Workers in Singapore

Commercial Sex Work During Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) Era in the Niger Delta Region: Relationships Between Knowledge, Preventive Practice, and Transmission Potential

Sex Workers and Syndemics: A Population Vulnerable to HIV and COVID-19

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