“I can't carry on like this”: barriers to exiting the street-based sex trade in South Africa

Abstract

In South Africa, gender-based violence and sexual assault is widespread. Poverty, particularly amongst black women, is also rife. Women selling sex on the street are at greatest risk for adverse health outcomes, violence and poverty. This study sought to explore the challenges faced by women attempting to exit the street-based sex trade. Two focus groups, a total of 21 black women, were conducted. These groups were recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. The emerging themes exemplified a general sense of disempowerment and highlighted needs for exit. Context-specific requirements need to be elucidated for the development of successful exit interventions and policy reform. Further research should focus on the issue of decriminalization, empowerment and consciousness-raising in order to truly understand the relative harms to health in diverse contexts.