Factors influencing female sex workers to engage in risky sexual behaviour with clients

This study looks at factors influencing female sex workers (FSWs) to engage in risky sexual behaviour. Despite condoms being the only effective measure of HIV and STI prevention its utilisation of FSWs has been extremely low. Respondents were ten female sex workers, six in the age-group 35+ and four between 20 and 25 years, who conducted their business in the busy streets of a large South African metropolitan area. This exploratory study employed semi-structured interviews in order to understand street-based FSW’s experiences regarding compromising the use of condoms by clients. Primary goals were to address gaps in the literature with regard to specific non-use of condoms by FSW’s clients. they responses to the semi-structured interview questionnaire highlighted different clients’ reactions towards condom use, including being offered more money. Thematic analysis indicated that risky sexual behaviour 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 FSWs 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.