A snapshot of male sex worker health and wellbeing in Western Australia
Linda A. Selvey
A F , Kahlia McCausland B , Roanna Lobo B , Julie Bates C , Basil Donovan D E and Jonathan Hallett B
A School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, UQ Herston Campus, 288 Herston Road, Herston, Qld 4006, Australia.
B Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health, School of Public Health, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia.
C Urban Realists Planning & Health Consultants, Redfern, Sydney, NSW 2016, Australia.
D The Kirby Institute, Wallace Wurth Building, UNSW Sydney, High Street, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia.
E Sydney Sexual Health Centre, Sydney Hospital, Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia.
F Corresponding author. Email: l.selvey@uq.edu.au
Sexual Health 16(3) 233-239 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH18166
Submitted: 6 September 2018 Accepted: 8 January 2019 Published: 4 April 2019
Abstract
Background: There 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.
Additional keywords: condom use, discrimination, harmful drinking, smoking, stigma.
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