title: Social Support and Sexual Risk Among Establishment-Based Female Sex Workers in Tijuana.
abstract: Social support can affect health outcomes of female sex workers. In this inductive feminist grounded theory study based on 20 in-depth interviews, we explore how establishment-based female sex workers in Tijuana perceive the impact of the connections among women on their lives and health. Participants elected to discuss the importance of social support from mothers, sisters, friends, and co-workers, and the empowering and disempowering aspects of these relationships. In previous studies, scholars demonstrated the efficacy of formal organization of female sex workers in promoting the mitigation of sexual and HIV risk. We show the importance of informal ties with other women. Some participants mentioned competitive relationships, others talked about cooperation and the desire for a venue to learn from one another. Social interactions with other women are especially empowering when female sex workers can openly engage in "woman talk" that may contribute to the mitigation of sexual and HIV risk.
authors.affiliation: University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Shonali Mona
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Choudhury
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA jt.erausquin@uncg.edu.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Toller Erausquin
authors.affiliation: University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Kyuwon
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Anglade
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D066296:Grounded Theory; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011582:Psychological Theory; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012307:Risk Factors; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000523:psychology; D060386:Sex Workers / Q000523:psychology*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support
keywords: HIV/AIDS prevention; Mexicans; U.S.-Mexico border; communication; culture; feminism; grounded theory; health care; health care disparities; in-depth interviews; marginalized populations; qualitative; risk behaviors; sex workers; sexual health; social support; vulnerable populations; women’s health