Impact of COVID-19 on Sex Workers and the Transgender Population in India

Singh, Akanksha; Dandona, Anu

doi:10.4018/978-1-7998-7480-5.ch018

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 33 publications

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“…These difficulties have worsened significantly since the commencement of the Covid-19 pandemic, as the imposition of different restrictions is said to have had a disastrous influence on the lives of the sex community. Since the pandemic’s breakout, the sex worker communities and other segments of society, especially transgender people, have borne the burden of inequality (Singh and Dandona 2021 ).…”

Section: Life-cycle Of Fswsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Covid-19 and female sex workers in India: a journey of brutal reality

Sehgal

Patni

2023

SN Soc Sci

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The present paper is focused on the devastating effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on female sex workers (FSWs) in India and the globe. In Indian scenario, it emphasises on historical factors and theoretical frameworks that explicates the ceaseless exploitation of FSWs even before the pandemic. This inquiry analyses the efficacy of legislative and judicial endeavours taken with regard to FSWs. It highlights the role of non-governmental organisations and sex workers’ community, actively working in providing support to the FSWs. Here, we attempt to document the scattered information from various reports regarding sex workers and prostitution. Literature search was done through search engines like Science Direct, Google Scholar and PubMed using keywords such as “COVID-19 pandemic” “sex workers”, “prostitutes”, “health”, and “policies”. Web hits from Google Scholar were collected using a Boolean search and retrieval method involving sex workers and the “AND” operator. During Covid-19 pandemic, due to stigmatisation of their profession FSWs are majorly excluded from government relief programs and health services. In India, the existing laws for FSWs are rigid in nature. They emphasize on prohibition of prostitution. There is an urgent need in India to move towards a substitute model which embody a flexible decriminalisation policy for sex workers. By studying relevant literature on the present topic the gap between policy formulation and implementation was identified. In case of India, it outlines recommendations, in particular providing immediate aid and relief, issuance of temporary documentation to sex workers.

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Section: Life-cycle Of Fswsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Covid-19 and female sex workers in India: a journey of brutal reality

Sehgal

Patni

2023

SN Soc Sci

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HIV service delivery in the time of COVID‐19: focus group discussions with key populations in India

et al. 2021

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IntroductionThere are limited data on the impact of COVID‐19‐associated disruptions and novel HIV service delivery strategies among key populations (KPs) in low‐ and middle‐income countries. In March 2020, in response to COVID‐19, the Government of India revised HIV service delivery policies to include community antiretroviral therapy (ART) distribution and multi‐month dispensing (MMD) of ART for all people living with HIV (PLHIV).MethodsTo assess the acceptability of these adaptations and impact of the pandemic among KPs, we conducted focus groups in November–December 2020 with purposively sampled men who have sex with men (MSM), female sex workers (FSWs) and transgender women (TGW) in Telangana and Maharashtra. Seven discussions were conducted. Topics included HIV service access, risk behaviours, economic security and feedback to ensure service continuity. Inductive coding identified themes across topics.ResultsForty‐four individuals aged 20–49 years participated in discussions (13 MSM; 16 FSW; and 15 TGW). Twenty‐four participants self‐identified as living with HIV. People not living with HIV reported challenges in accessing HIV antibody testing at hospitals due to travel restrictions and fear of contracting COVID‐19. Participants accessed HIV antibody testing using transportation arranged by community‐based organizations after lockdowns eased. PLHIV reported uninterrupted ART refills and generally consistent adherence; however, there were experiences of delayed CD4 and HIV RNA testing. Participants shared appreciation for MMD as it saved time, money, and reduced exposure to COVID‐19. Participants expressed gratitude for home deliveries which enabled ART access, yet shared concerns about home‐based services causing confidentiality breaches with family/neighbours. Participants voiced preferences for community‐based service provision due to proximity, convenient hours, and welcoming environments compared to public hospitals. Other requests included support for income, employment, nutrient‐rich food and more accessible mental health, HIV, and other health services.ConclusionsCOVID‐19 restrictions had a greater impact on access to HIV antibody, CD4, and RNA testing services compared to ART access. High acceptance of MMD and community‐based services support the continued role of differentiated service delivery models to improve KP access to HIV antibody, CD4, RNA testing services, convenient ART retrieval, and integrated services beyond HIV, which may be critical for survival and wellbeing.

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Precarious life in a heartless world: COVID-19 and the gender transgressive Shivashaktis in Southern India

Mukherjee,

Rao,

Kumar

2024

Community Development Journal

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This paper attempts to understand and narrate the experiences of Shivashaktis, a gender transgressive community from Southern India, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Shivashaktis’ gender transgressions and embodied ritual power allow them to intercede between the human and the divine. This secures them religious sanction and legitimacy and offers a source of income for them. They are engaged in several livelihood practices that are associated with ritual practices such as performing oracles, laggams (deity marriages), joggu, etc. Their embeddedness in heterosexual family structures, however, hinder their access to benefits that are allocated for the transgender community through the state and non-state policy programmes. During the pandemic, with the state-announced lockdown across the nation, and particularly in Telangana, Shivashaktis were pushed further into precarity, burdened by economic, psychological and community disruptions. Within this context, the paper critically engages with the impact of COVID-19 that brought the entire relational world of the gender transgressive Shivashaktis to collapse rigorously, affecting their livelihood and sense of being and belonging in the world.

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Impact of COVID-19 on Sex Workers and the Transgender Population in India

Cited by 3 publications

References 33 publications

Covid-19 and female sex workers in India: a journey of brutal reality

Covid-19 and female sex workers in India: a journey of brutal reality

HIV service delivery in the time of COVID‐19: focus group discussions with key populations in India

Precarious life in a heartless world: COVID-19 and the gender transgressive Shivashaktis in Southern India

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