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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/234324
- Title
- The health and lifestyle of sex workers in a regional city in Australia
- Author(s)
- Harris, Margaret A.; Southgate, Erika; Bowe, Steven; Nilan, Pamela
- Abstract
- Purpose: To explore the health of women working as sex workers in the local area of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. Methods: A face-to-face questionnaire was completed by 70 sex workers. Response rate= 75 percent. Results: The average age of participants was 33 years and all were women. There was a mixture of working environments and most received most of their income from sex work. All but two reported to be having regular sexual health check-ups and only one reported to be HIV positive. Overall, sexual health practices were safe although condom use could have been higher. Mental health scores were not high and over half of the participants had taken alcohol or other drugs while working, in the past month. Safety was a concern, with 20 women reporting violence in the past month. Conclusions: While participants reported to be having regular sexual health check-ups, rates of poor mental health were high. Safety with regards to condom use and violence were also of concern. These issues need to be addressed.
- Publication type
- Conference paper
- Source
- Paper presented at 'Facing the challenge of health care systems in transition', the International Nursing Research Conference, Jerusalem, Israel, 30 June-03 July 2008
- Publication year
- 2008
- Keyword(s)
- Health; HIV; Mental health; Prostitution; Sex workers; Sexual health; Violence
- Publisher
- International Nursing Research Conference
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2008.
