Commercial Sex Worker and Female privcy in Medical Profession

India

healthysoch

Sex work is not illegal in India. However, most people including doctors think it is wrong.

This has led to sex workers being highly stigmatized and criminalized, and has severely affected their physical and mental health. A recent study among 1000 sex workers in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Pune by three NGOs: SIAAP, Saheli Sangh, and Sangama, showed:

Up to 75% sex workers did not seek treatment because of poor communication by healthcare providers, lack of respect, no/low privacy and confidentiality, long wait time, unavailability of doctors outside business hours.
Up to 40% of sex workers reported being refused medical care.
Nearly 40% of doctors said they do not like to treat sex workers because it would reduce their clientele
“Doctors ask us questions about what sexual acts we perform, how many clients we have, what our fees are, etc.”
“Doctors are always telling us to leave sex work.
“They are avoiding touching us if they know we have HIV.”
“They invite other doctors to see us, take photos of our genitals, and share without our consent.”
Women said that the lack of respect also affected their mental health.
32% sex workers experienced high symptoms of mental health issues. None (0%) of the sex workers have accessed treatment for their mental health issues in a health facility.
Nearly 60% of sex workers reported NCDs including hypertension, diabetes, thyroid, heart disease, and allergies.
Over 75% said they did not seek treatment for the disease
Nearly 50% half the sex workers said they were in need of sexual and reproductive health services in the last six months. About 41% STIs.
up to 40% of sex workers said they did not access treatment for their SRH problems.