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A snapshot of male sex worker health and wellbeing in Western Australia

A snapshot of male sex worker health and wellbeing in Western Australia BackgroundThere is limited information available about the health and wellbeing of male sex workers in Australia and globally. This study therefore was conducted to survey male sex workers in Western Australia as part of a broader study investigating the health and safety of sex workers in Western Australia. Methods:Male sex workers were surveyed using a modified survey instrument that had been used in a study undertaken in 2006. Survey respondents were recruited by word-of-mouth, social media, advertisements in gay press and in person. In-depth interviews with a small number of male sex workers were also conducted. Results:Fifty-eight men responded to the survey. The majority of survey respondents (42/58, 72%) were aged 35 years and a high proportion (50/58, 86%) worked privately at least some of the time. Seventy-two per cent (33/46) reported consistently using condoms during anal sex and 22% (11/51) during oral sex with clients. The consistent use of condoms with partners outside of work was associated with consistent use of condoms with clients. Forty per cent (23/58) of respondents reported currently using tobacco and 47% (25/53) reported harmful drinking at least weekly. The majority of respondents reported that sex work enhanced their wellbeing, with negative effects being largely due to stigma and discrimination, and the uncertainty related to not having a steady income. Conclusion:The study findings point to the need for peer outreach and support, interventions to improve the broader health of male sex workers and decriminalisation of sex work in Western Australia. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Sexual Health CSIRO Publishing

A snapshot of male sex worker health and wellbeing in Western Australia

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References (19)

Publisher
CSIRO Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s). Published by CSIRO Publishing
ISSN
1448-5028
eISSN
1449-8987
DOI
10.1071/SH18166
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

BackgroundThere is limited information available about the health and wellbeing of male sex workers in Australia and globally. This study therefore was conducted to survey male sex workers in Western Australia as part of a broader study investigating the health and safety of sex workers in Western Australia. Methods:Male sex workers were surveyed using a modified survey instrument that had been used in a study undertaken in 2006. Survey respondents were recruited by word-of-mouth, social media, advertisements in gay press and in person. In-depth interviews with a small number of male sex workers were also conducted. Results:Fifty-eight men responded to the survey. The majority of survey respondents (42/58, 72%) were aged 35 years and a high proportion (50/58, 86%) worked privately at least some of the time. Seventy-two per cent (33/46) reported consistently using condoms during anal sex and 22% (11/51) during oral sex with clients. The consistent use of condoms with partners outside of work was associated with consistent use of condoms with clients. Forty per cent (23/58) of respondents reported currently using tobacco and 47% (25/53) reported harmful drinking at least weekly. The majority of respondents reported that sex work enhanced their wellbeing, with negative effects being largely due to stigma and discrimination, and the uncertainty related to not having a steady income. Conclusion:The study findings point to the need for peer outreach and support, interventions to improve the broader health of male sex workers and decriminalisation of sex work in Western Australia.

Journal

Sexual HealthCSIRO Publishing

Published: Apr 4, 2019

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