Citation

Willis B. Lancet Glob. Health 2013; 1(2): e68.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/S2214-109X(13)70011-1

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

An understanding of the global health burden of sex work, including sex trafficking and transactional sex, is urgently needed to direct resources to very large and vulnerable populations. Estimation of this burden will be a challenge, but similar efforts have been undertaken in other populations and for other complex issues that are difficult to measure, such as female genital mutilation.

Although thousands of studies on sex work have been undertaken and substantial data collected on the health problems of sex workers, including HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, alcohol and drug use, mental health problems, and violence, we do not know the global health burden of sex work. By contrast, the health burden of other issues that profoundly affect millions of people globally, such as HIV and violence against women, have been estimated.

Estimations of the health burden of sex work should consider morbidity, long-term disabilities, and mortality in male, female, and transgender sex workers. Data are needed not only for acute and present health problems of sex workers, but also for permanent and chronic disabilities and mortality.....

Language: en