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Negotiating safety and sexual risk reductionwith clients in unsanctioned safer indoor sex work environments: A qualitative study

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  • Krüsi, A.
  • Chettiar, J.
  • Ridgway, A.
  • Abbott, J.
  • Strathdee, S.A.
  • Shannon, K.

Abstract

Objectives. We examined how unique, low-barrier, supportive housing programs for women who are functioning as unsanctioned indoor sex work environments in a Canadian urban setting influence risk negotiation with clients in sex work transactions. Methods. We conducted 39 semistructured qualitative interviews and 6 focus groups with women who live in low-barrier, supportive housing for marginalized sex workers with substance use issues. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed. Results. Women's accounts indicated that unsanctioned indoor sex work environments promoted increased control over negotiating sex work transactions, including the capacity to refuse unwanted services, negotiate condom use, and avoid violent perpetrators. Despite the lack of formal legal and policy support for indoor sex work venues in Canada, the environmental-structural supports afforded by these unsanctioned indoor sex work environments, including surveillance cameras and support from staff or police in removing violent clients, were linked to improved police relationships and facilitated the institution of informal peer-safety mechanisms. Conclusions. This study has drawn attention to the potential role of safer indoor sex work environments as venues for public health and violence prevention interventions and has indicated the critical importance of removing the sociolegal barriers preventing the formal implementation of such programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Krüsi, A. & Chettiar, J. & Ridgway, A. & Abbott, J. & Strathdee, S.A. & Shannon, K., 2012. "Negotiating safety and sexual risk reductionwith clients in unsanctioned safer indoor sex work environments: A qualitative study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 102(6), pages 1154-1159.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2011.300638_8
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2011.300638
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    Cited by:

    1. Henrique Pereira, 2021. "Male Sex Workers Selling Physical Sex during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Portugal: Motives, Safer Sex Practices, and Social Vulnerabilities," Societies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-13, September.
    2. Elena Argento & Shira Goldenberg & Melissa Braschel & Sylvia Machat & Steffanie A Strathdee & Kate Shannon, 2020. "The impact of end-demand legislation on sex workers’ access to health and sex worker-led services: A community-based prospective cohort study in Canada," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(4), pages 1-10, April.
    3. Leja Markelj & Alisa Selan & Tjaša Dolinar & Matej Sande, 2022. "Sex Work in Slovenia: Assessing the Needs of Sex Workers," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 27(2), pages 434-451, June.
    4. Katie Hail-Jares & Ruth C F Chang & Sugy Choi & Huang Zheng & Na He & Z Jennifer Huang, 2015. "Intimate-Partner and Client-Initiated Violence among Female Street-Based Sex Workers in China: Does a Support Network Help?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(9), pages 1-16, September.
    5. Jennie Pearson & Sylvia Machat & Jennifer McDermid & Shira M. Goldenberg & Andrea Krüsi, 2023. "An Evaluation of Indoor Sex Workers’ Sexual Health Access in Metro Vancouver: Applying an Occupational Health & Safety Lens in the Context of Criminalization," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-15, January.

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