Perceptions of commercial sex workers about the risk of drug use in HIV infection

Abstract

This study investigated the perceptions of commercial sex workers about the risk of drug use in HIV infection. The aim of this study was to determine whether drug use is a c~ factor for an increased HIV infection risk. This was to further explore the nature and effectiveness of risk reduction strategies undertaken by commercial sex workers to reduce susceptibility to HIV. An analysis of whether coping strategies adopted by commercial sex workers are adaptive was done. In-depth interviews of four colored women aged between 24-30 years, who speak Afrikaans and English and work as sex workers around the area of Brackenfell in the Western Cape were done. These women reported drug use as part of the nature of their job. Unemployment and family obligations were the driving force into the nature work they do. The themes that emerged from the data were that the nature of sexual exchange which takes the form of commodity exchange which is transient and impersonal exposes sex workers to heath related risk through abuse and violation from clients. Sex workers are also conveyed by their clients and the rest of society with discourses of sick society.