Sex workers are returning to work and require enhanced support in the face of COVID-19: results from a longitudinal analysis of online sex work activity and a content analysis of safer sex work guidelines
Denton Callander
A B H , Étienne Meunier A , Ryan DeVeau C , Christian Grov D , Basil Donovan B E , Victor Minichiello F G , Alicia Singham Goodwin A and Dustin T. Duncan A
A Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA.
B The Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity in Society, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
C Faculty of Arts, The University of Melbourne, 148 Royal Parade, Parkville, Vic. 3052, Australia.
D Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, 55 W 125th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA.
E Sydney Sexual Health Centre, 8 Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia.
F University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
G School of Social Justice, Faculty of Law, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George Street, Brisbane City, Qld 4000, Australia.
H Corresponding author. Email: d.callander@columbia.edu
Sexual Health 17(4) 384-386 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH20128
Submitted: 21 July 2020 Accepted: 5 August 2020 Published: 25 August 2020
Journal Compilation © CSIRO 2020 Open Access CC BY
Abstract
Sex workers confront unique challenges in the face of COVID-19. Data from an international sex work website popular with cisgender men and transgender men and women suggest that, after a period of physical distancing, many sex workers are returning to in-person work: from May to August 2020, active sex work profiles increased 9.4% (P < 0.001) and newly created profiles increased by 35.6% (P < 0.001). Analysis of sex work and COVID-19 guidelines published by five community-based organisations found that they focused on altering sexual practices, enhancing hygiene and pivoting to virtual work. To capitalise on these guidelines, funding and research for implementation and evaluation are needed to support COVID-19 risk reduction strategies for sex workers.
Additional keywords: community health, community interventions, male sex work, risk reduction.
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