<p>Barriers to Condom Use Among Female Sex Workers in Tehran, Iran: A Qualitative Study</p>

Abstract

Background: There are many barriers for condom use, which was one of the most important methods to prevent the transmission of HIV among female sex workers. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to identify the barriers to condom use among female sex workers in Tehran, Iran. Methods: This study was conducted with a qualitative approach and conventional content analysis among female sex workers in Tehran. Twenty-two female sex workers were selected through snowball sampling and purposive sampling. The data gathering method was a semi-structured interview and the data were analyzed using Graneheim and Lundman method. Guba and Lincoln criteria were used for evaluating research transferability. Results: The results of data analysis were categorized in three categories and seven sub-categories included 1) individual factors (not knowing HIV/AIDS properly, antiloyalty and love, and personality traits), 2) structural factors (partner's desire, problems with condom availability), and 3) cultural factors (cultural taboos, following the models). Conclusion: The results showed that lack of condom use is the consequence of different individual, structural, and cultural factors. So, it can be useful to take some initiatives at the individual level by raising awareness and understanding of female sex workers about HIV at the structural level by lowering the price of condoms and providing them extensively and at the societal level, by changing the beliefs and taboos about condoms.

Explaining the reasons for not maintaining the health guidelines to prevent COVID-19 in high-risk jobs: a qualitative study in Iran

“…This study was conducted with a conventional qualitative content analysis method [ 33 , 34 ] in Tehran, the capital of Iran. No research has been conducted related to this issue in Iran so far, and thus, it has many unknown aspects that need to be studied.…”

Sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression-based violence in Catalan universities: qualitative findings from university students and staff

“…LGBTQI+ stigmatization also results in impediments for LGBTQI+ students to reach the same academic level and success than the rest of the students [19,23,43,44].…”

“…LGBT paintings, graffities and threats [3,13], social distance [10,15,17], not-inclusive or acceptance spaces [18] and possible risk of suffering from unprotected forms of sex and AIDS' contagion [19] have been identified as advanced forms of violence based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. On the one hand, the case of a hostile environment is conditioning the free expression of the felt gender identity and sexual orientation [9,[18][19][20][21][22].…”

“…LGBT paintings, graffities and threats [3,13], social distance [10,15,17], not-inclusive or acceptance spaces [18] and possible risk of suffering from unprotected forms of sex and AIDS' contagion [19] have been identified as advanced forms of violence based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. On the one hand, the case of a hostile environment is conditioning the free expression of the felt gender identity and sexual orientation [9,[18][19][20][21][22]. On the other hand, all these forms and manifestations of violence can generate a response of internalization and normalization of the homophobic actions, perpetuating the violence and affecting negatively in the life quality and wellbeing of the LGBT+ academic community [3,16,[22][23][24][25].…”

“…Secondly, it affects their academic performance, presenting a lower grade in average in comparison to hetero-cis students [26]. This difference of academic results has been analysed as an aftereffect of LGBT stigmatization creating difficulty to focus on their studies [19,27], having further consequences in their future possibilities and academic success [24]. Thirdly, these realities of LGBTphobia in HEI's promote exclusionary climates and negatively affects the cohesion and relationality of sexual minority students [22].…”