Female sex workers'experiences of the sexual reproductive health(SRH)services on the emerging voices project in Chipata district in Zambia
Date
2017
Authors
Moyo, Masozi Bridget
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
The number of people living with HIV and AIDS has continued to rise globally despite
the significant effort and resources invested in prevention programmes worldwide.
Epidemiologically, majority of new HIV infections in Asia occur in individuals who are at
high risk. This is so in many other parts of the world including Zambia. Although Female
Sex Workers (FSW’s) are among the most at risk, they are often deterred from seeking
health services because of stigma associated with their work. The hostile legal
environment concerning sex work in Zambia and the unfriendly and discriminatory health
services provided discourage them from accessing Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH)
services thereby increasing the risk of infections and re-infections of HIV/AIDS and
Sexually Transmitted Infections(STI’s) among them and their partners who may be the
general population. The Southern African AIDS Trust (SAT Zambia) identified this gap in
the fight against HIV/AIDS following a base line survey in 2013 which resulted in – The
Emerging Voices Project in Chipata District. This study aimed at exploring the Female
Sex Workers’ lived experiences of the SRH services on the Emerging Voices Project in
Chipata District – Zambia.
Using a Phenomenological study design, this study aimed to explore the Female Sex
Workers’ lived experiences and acceptability of the Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH)
services on the project.
The study findings revealed that the FSWs had challenges accessing SRH services before
the Emerging Voices Project. From their perspective, they shunned health facilities
because of the experience of discriminatory and unfriendly health services. The barriers to
their utilization of the SRH services included the cost of SRH services, a poor referral
system, fear to test positive and lack of knowledge of SRH services. However, the
Projects’ creation of the Taskforce and Hubs, introduction of Peer Educators, facilitated
the FSWs rights to health in the community and amongst the Health workers and
improved the acceptability, adoption and utilization of SRH services in among the FSWs.
The lived experiences of the FSW’s SRH needs highlighted in this study challenge the
unfriendly and discriminatory health services in Chipata District prior to the Emerging
Voices Project. The adoption and utilization of the SRH services now by FSW’s inform
policy on the importance of decriminalization of sex work in Zambia to ultimately
promote good health seeking behaviors and reduce the HIV prevalence among the FSW
and the general population. These study findings are of particular importance to refocusing
of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment initiatives on targeted groups. It
generates evidence for expansion and replication of similar impactful interventions in the
HIV/AIDS fight.
Description
Thesis
Keywords
Sexual and reproductive health--Zambia , Female sex workers--HIV/AIDS--Zambia