title: Migration status, work conditions and health utilization of female sex workers in three South African cities.
abstract: Intersections between migration and sex work are underexplored in southern Africa, a region with high internal and cross-border population mobility, and HIV prevalence. Sex work often constitutes an important livelihood activity for migrant women. In 2010, sex workers trained as interviewers conducted cross-sectional surveys with 1,653 female sex workers in Johannesburg (Hillbrow and Sandton), Rustenburg and Cape Town. Most (85.3%) sex workers were migrants (1396/1636): 39.0% (638/1636) internal and 46.3% (758/1636) cross-border. Cross-border migrants had higher education levels, predominately worked part-time, mainly at indoor venues, and earned more per client than other groups. They, however, had 41% lower health service contact (adjusted odds ratio = 0.59; 95% confidence interval = 0.40-0.86) and less frequent condom use than non-migrants. Police interaction was similar. Cross-border migrants appear more tenacious in certain aspects of sex work, but require increased health service contact. Migrant-sensitive, sex work-specific health care and health education are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, International Centre for Reproductive Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium, Marlise.richter@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Marlise
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Matthew F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Chersich
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vearey
authors.forename: Benn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sartorius
authors.forename: Marleen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Temmerman
authors.forename: Stanley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Luchters
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D060386:Sex Workers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000208:ethnology