Factors Influencing Female Sex Workers to Engage in Risky Sexual Behaviour With Clients

Abstract

This study looked at factors influencing female sex workers to engage in risky sexual behavior. Despite condoms being the only effective measure of HIV and sexually transmitted disease prevention, its utilization of female sex workers has been extremely low. Respondents were ten female sex workers, six in the age-group 35 plus and four between 20-25 years, who conducted their business in the busy streets of a large South African metropolitan area. This exploratory study employed semi-structured interviews to understand street based female sex workers experiences regarding compromising the use of condoms by clients. Findings highlighted different clients’ reactions towards condom use, including being offered more money. Thematic analysis indicated that risky sexual behavior of female sex workers was influenced by financial incentive, inexperience of the female sex workers, location, and client violence. From their experiences, the sex workers indicated that they found it difficult to enforce condom use in their transactions with clients because they were not sure what a client was looking for. Findings of the study reveal that female sex workers are not consist in enforcing the condom use by clients. Factors that play a role on their decision are if offered a premium, inexperience, location, and client violence. Decriminalization of the sex trade would likely enhance female sex workers operating their business activities in a safer environment and would provide legal recourse for the offenses made against them.