Human rights abuses and collective resilience among sex workers in four African countries: a qualitative study

Fiona Scorgie, Katherine Elizabeth Vasey, Eric Harper, Marlise L Richter, Prince Nare, Sian Maseko, Matthew Francis Chersich

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

97 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Sex work is a criminal offence, virtually throughout Africa. This criminalisation and the intense stigma attached to the profession shapes interactions between sex workers and their clients, family, fellow community members, and societal structures such as the police and social services.Methods: We explore the impact of violence and related human rights abuses on the lives of sex workers, and how they have responded to these conditions, as individuals and within small collectives. These analyses are based on data from 55 in-depth interviews and 12 focus group discussions with female, male and transgender sex workers in Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe. Data were collected by sex worker outreach workers trained to conduct qualitative research among their peers.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1 - 13
Number of pages13
JournalGlobalization and Health
Volume9
Issue number1 (Art. No.: 33)
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013

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