You have full access to this open access article. Stigma has a significant impact on the health of different societal groups and contributes to inequalities in healthcare. We focused on an established network of services for sex workers in Bochum. We conducted in-depth guideline-based interviews with four counselors at centers that provide social and medical support for sex workers and three sex workers who use these services. Interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.
Sex work stigma within healthcare was reported to intersect with other forms of discrimination, such as racism. Specific needs and barriers were reported regarding mental health, which emerged as an important topic for sex workers. Free and anonymous healthcare offers were evaluated positively. Interviewees noted a lack of services that address the needs of sex workers beyond sexually transmitted infections, such as mental healthcare.
Several barriers to accessing healthcare remain for sex workers, many of which are particularly relevant for migrant sex workers from Eastern European countries. Die Interviews wurden mittels qualitativer Inhaltsanalyse nach Kuckartz ausgewertet. Stigma and marginalization have a significant impact on the health of different societal groups and contribute to inequalities in healthcare Hatzenbuehler et al. So far, sex work has barely been discussed within the context of medical ethics.
However, it is increasingly recognized that the access of marginalized groups to healthcare is a vital issue for bioethics Danis et al. Consequently, this should position the healthcare needs of sex workers, who are a highly stigmatized group, as an important topic for medical ethics. This may be reinforced by stigma associated with sexually transmitted infections STIs and drug use Benoit et al.
Especially sex workers from marginalized social groups, including trans sex workers and racialized sex workers, may be affected by intersecting forms of discrimination and stigma Footnote 1 Oliveira ; Amnesty International ; Fisher et al. On a policy level, four main approaches to sex work can be distinguished: criminalizing sex work and all those associated with it; criminalizing only buyers of sex work; legalization; and decriminalization Mac and Smith In Germany, sex work is legalized.
