Reaching out to sex workers

ABSTRACT

Background: Outreach is essential to Integrated Sexual Health Services (ISHS). POW is a sex worker (SW) project that supports vulnerable men and women in the sex industry in an inner city area. The ISHS outreach team have provided ISHS at a weekly drop in service at POW premises, a monthly migrant SW clinic and an Off-Street service in saunas, massage parlours, homes and working flats. Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic ISHS has adapted to still provide this service via a weekly clinic within the ISHS hub. They provide education, contraception, condoms, STI and BBV screening and treatment. The aim was to review the characteristics of the individuals accessing the POW outreach clinics. Method: A retrospective review of notes from 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2019 was undertaken. Data was collected on demographics, STI screening, contraception and vulnerable factors such as recreational drug use, safeguarding issues, sexual assaults and domestic violence. Results: 77 individuals were identified, of whom, 35% (27) were new to the clinic. 5% (4) Male and 95% (73) Female. Ages ranged from 19-59 years. 4% Bisexual, 5% MSM and 91% Heterosexual. Table 1 summarises the findings. Women were high risk for pregnancy (Table 1) with a maximum of 6 terminations and 13 pregnancies in 1 individual alone. Condom use among all SW was 63%. 1 individual was commenced on pre exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Conclusion: Sex workers (SW) remain a vulnerable, stigmatised group with high sexual health needs. Multiple attendances are sometimes required before an individual will trust the team enough to access testing, contraception or safe sex education. An outreach team dedicated to SW, spending time and effort building trusting relationships with these individuals has been key to the success of POW outreach clinics. Having a link POW worker for the specific communities such as the Romanian community, translating teaching sessions and leaflets has improved attendance and testing. Strong partnership working has been key to effectively supporting the needs of this vulnerable group. (Table Presented).