Health Concerns and Access to Services: Female Sex Workers’ Experiences in Mumbai, India

Abstract

Female sex workers (FSWs) in India experience unmet health‐care needs due to numerous barriers to care. The objectives of this study were to (i) explore the health concerns among FSWs in Kamathipura, a red‐light district of Mumbai, India; and (ii) understand their experiences using health‐related services and resources. This qualitative study used in‐depth, semi‐structured individual interviews with 15 FSWs recruited using snowball sampling. Data analysis consisted of reading transcriptions line by line, identifying themes, and coding categories. A matrix of health concerns and identified resources were created to examine relationships. Participants identified numerous health concerns. Six thematic categories emerged, encompassing all health concern codes: communicable disease, nutrition, substance abuse, reproductive health, mental health, and physical violence. Participants reported varying levels of availability of health services; additionally, their basic health needs exceeded resource availability. FSWs have vital health concerns that go untreated. Current health care and social service funding and interventions are insufficient to meet the needs. Health‐care services must be expanded across all identified health categories and FSWs informed of their existence. Furthermore, prevention and intervention programs, with support from both nonprofits and government, must be prioritized to address the basic food and safety needs of FSWs.