Sex work and COVID-19 pandemic: Sexual and mental health of a sample of sex wor- kers from Colombia

ABSTRACT

Introduction: In different countries, women sex workers have been stigmatized and discriminated against causing mental and sexual health problems in them. However, it is unknown how the pandemic and social distancing have impacted on their health. The objective of this descriptive research was to evaluate psychosocial factors, mental health, strategies for safe sexual practices, attitudes towards HIV and sexuality during the confinement period. Method: 98 female sex workers from three sectors of Bogota participated, who responded to psychometric scales on mental and sexual health. Results: More than 60% of the participants indicate feeling abandonment of the state, low clientele and little or no economic income;emotional involvement, a tendency to present negative attitudes towards sexuality, positive attitudes towards condom use, HIV testing and a high tendency to use persuasion strategies when the client refuses to use protection. Conclusions: Mental and sexual health problems continue and intensify in pandemic for sex workers in Colombia, which continues to be a national challenge that requires efficient and effective intervention from the economic and psychosocial aspects. (c) 2021 Fundacion Universitaria Konrad Lorenz. Este es un articulo Open Access bajo la licencia CC BY-NC-ND (http//creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).