"I do what I have to do to survive": An investigation into the perceptions, experiences and economic considerations of women engaged in sex work in Northern Namibia

Fitzgerald-Husek, Alanna; Martiniuk, Alexandra; Hinchcliff, Reece; Aochamus, Christine Esperanza; Lee, Richard

doi:10.1186/1472-6874-11-35

Cited by 29 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Previous studies have identified a number of factors that affect condom use among female sex workers. In a study of the perceptions and experiences of FSWs in Namibia, Fitzgerald-Husek et al 22 found that condom use prospects depended on the level of intimacy with partner, and the woman's financial standing at the time, among other factors. A study in Kinshasa found that about a quarter of sex workers reported having unprotected sex for extra money, charging up to 3.5 times more for unprotected sex 23 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge, attitudes & barriers to condom use among female sex workers and truck drivers in Uganda: a mixed-methods study

Matovu¹,

Ssebadduka²

2014

Afr H. Sci.

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Background: There is limited documentation on knowledge, attitudes and barriers to condom use among female sex workers (FSWs) and truck drivers (truckers). Objective: To explore knowledge, attitudes and barriers to condom use among FSWs and truckers operating along major transport corridors in Uganda Methods: Structured questionnaires were administered to explore FSWs' and truckers' knowledge of and attitudes towards condom use among 259 FSWs and 261 truckers. Qualitative data were collected on barriers to condom use using focus group discussions. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS while qualitative data were audio-recorded, transcribed and thematically analyzed. Results: Condom knowledge was high with 97% of FSWs and 95% of truckers agreeing with the statement, "using condoms properly and consistently reduces risk of HIV infection". Attitudes towards condom use were generally favorable with 91% of FSWs and 82% of truckers agreeing with the statement, "condom use is the best method of HIV prevention". Qualitative findings show that poverty, refusal to use condoms by male partners, alcohol use before sex and beliefs that condoms 'kill the mood for sex' remain key barriers to consistent condom use. Conclusions: Consistent condom use among FSWs and truckers is still hampered by economic and relationship factors.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge, attitudes & barriers to condom use among female sex workers and truck drivers in Uganda: a mixed-methods study

Matovu¹,

Ssebadduka²

2014

Afr H. Sci.

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“…The phenomenon of multiple partnerships has been documented [See 10,11,28,15,16]. However, gaps exist in knowledge on correlates of secret multiple partnership, sex differentials and HIV risk amongst stable relationships in Tiv land.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such sexual behaviours have been observed to be highly risky especially where condom usage is low. Sex work has attracted considerable attention [13][14][15][16][17][18]. Another type of multiple partnerships could be serial partnerships with short gaps between them, it may constitute similar risk such as posed by multiple concurrent partners, since a recently infected person may expose a new partner to HIV/STI while transmission probabilities are highest [19].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlates of Secret Multiple Partnership within Stable Relationships, Sex Differentials and HIV Risk amongst Tiv People of North Central Nigeria

Timiun

2017

ISRR

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Background: Despite the consensus in both the developing and developed countries that concurrent multiple sexual relationship is unsafe sexual behaviours; gaps exist in knowledge with regard to the dynamics of secret multiple partnership within stable relationships that account for over 40% new HIV infection in Nigeria. This study examines the correlates of secret multiple partnership within stable relationships, sex differentials and HIV risk amongst Tiv people, Nigeria. Methods: A sample of 1,621 (864 women; 757 men; 815 HIV seropositive; 806 HIV seronegative) respondents who participated in survey and in-depth interviews were selected from 2 clinics and 2 other locations using multi-stage and purposive sampling methods. SPSS (version 21) was used for quantitative data analysis. Results: Approximately 38% men and women who are married have reported being aware of their partners' secret sexual relationships. Fifty three percent women and 46.2% men who are aware of their partner's secret relationships are HIV positive. The correlates vary, but the common factor associated with both men and women whose partners are engaged in secret relationships is partners' absence from home for a longer period. Married men are more likely to engage in secret multiple partnerships than their female counterpart.

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“…This has prompted various organisations such as UNFPA, Society for Family Health and King's Daughters to conduct outreach and assessment. Yet, the topics of age at first sex work, sex workers sharing earnings and/or being forced to share earnings has been largely absent from most recent reports (Fitzgerald-Husek et al, 2011;UNFPA, 2011c). Data from this research should shed light on these issues so that young Namibian sex workers can be better understood, empowered and aided.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, defining who is a sex worker in Namibia is problematic. Various studies have identified commercial sex workers, informal sex workers, transactional sex, survival sex and exchange-sex (Edwards, 2007;Fitzgerald-Husek et al, 2011). Further problematising the issue is who decides who is a sex worker: The researcher?…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The commercial sexual exploitation of girls and young women in Namibia

Lafont

2015

IJGSDS

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Abstract:The main objective of this article is to examine trends among female Namibian sex workers over time. The current research, conducted in 2013, is an expansion of research conducted in 2006. The questions explored are: Are women beginning sex work at a younger age? Are they sharing their earnings? Are they being forced to share their earnings? And are 'pimps' or third party profiteers, previously thought to be rare in Namibia, emerging as a dynamic in the lives of young female sex workers today? The findings suggest that girls and young women are entering into sex work at younger ages and that a significant number of girls and young women are being sexually exploited and forced to share their earnings. The data presented here identifies a vulnerable population in need of special outreach and targeted programs.Keywords: sex work; prostitution; gender; women; Namibia; pimping; sexual exploitation; informal sex work; transactional sex; decriminalisation of sex work.Reference to this paper should be made as follows: LaFont, S. Biographical notes: Suzanne LaFont holds a PhD in Anthropology from Yale University. She is a cultural anthropologist with a specialisation in gender, sexuality, and human rights who has taught at many institutions, including the University of Kaunas in Lithuania and the University of Sophia in Bulgaria. She has published books on gender and sexuality in Namibia, gender relations in Jamaica, women in Lithuania, and a textbook on the construction of gender and sexualities. In addition, she has written several articles, chapters in edited books, and monographs on the topics of romance tourism in Jamaica, homophobia in the Caribbean, sex work in Namibia, and attitudes towards tradition and sexuality in Namibia. Her research interests are the interrelatedness of sexualities, gender, power, and human rights.

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"I do what I have to do to survive": An investigation into the perceptions, experiences and economic considerations of women engaged in sex work in Northern Namibia

Cited by 29 publications

References 19 publications

Knowledge, attitudes & barriers to condom use among female sex workers and truck drivers in Uganda: a mixed-methods study

Knowledge, attitudes & barriers to condom use among female sex workers and truck drivers in Uganda: a mixed-methods study

Correlates of Secret Multiple Partnership within Stable Relationships, Sex Differentials and HIV Risk amongst Tiv People of North Central Nigeria

The commercial sexual exploitation of girls and young women in Namibia

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