title: Poverty of opportunity forcing women into prostitution--a qualitative study in Pakistan.
abstract: Our aim for this study was to explore the factors influencing women to initiate and continue as sex workers and to explore their perceptions about human immuno deficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and health seeking behavior. We conducted a qualitative study based on interviews with 20 purposively selected women selling sex. Content analysis of data resulted in identification of one main theme: "Poverty of opportunity forcing women into prostitution." The identified driving forces behind women resorting to sell sex were poverty, materialism, and the desire to move up in society. They continued to sell sex due to poverty of opportunity and influencing social factors.
authors.affiliation: Division of Global Health (IHCAR), Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. mohsinsaeedkhan@gmail.com
authors.forename: Mohsin Saeed
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: Shakila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zaman
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Unemo
authors.forename: Naveed I
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Rahat
authors.forename: Cecilia Stålsby
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lundborg
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000635:transmission*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006608:Hierarchy, Social; D006801:Humans; D010154:Pakistan; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011203:Poverty; D011477:Sex Work; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000635:transmission*; D055815:Young Adult