Abstract
BackgroundMigrant women engaged in precarious employment, such as sex work, frequently face pronounced social isolation alongside other barriers to health and human rights. Although peer support has been identified as a critical HIV and violence prevention intervention for sex workers, little is known about access to peer support or its role in shaping health and social outcomes for migrant sex workers. This article analyses the role of peer support in shaping vulnerability and resilience related to HIV/STI prevention and violence among international migrant sex workers at the Mexico-Guatemala border.MethodsThis qualitative study is based on 31 semi-structured interviews conducted with international migrant sex workers in the Mexico-Guatemala border communities of Tapachula, Mexico and Tecún Umán and Quetzaltenango, Guatemala.ResultsPeer support was found to be critical for reducing social isolation; improving access to HIV/STI knowledge, prevention and resources; and mitigating workplace violence, particularly at the initial stages of migration and sex work. Peer support was especially critical for countering social isolation, and peers represented a valuable source of HIV/STI prevention knowledge and resources (e.g., condoms), as well as essential safety supports in the workplace. However, challenges to accessing peer support were noted, including difficulties establishing long-lasting relationships and other forms of social participation due to frequent mobility, as well as tensions among peers within some work environments. Variations in access to peer support related to country of work, work environment, sex work and migration stage, and sex work experience were also identified.ConclusionsResults indicate that peer-led and community empowerment interventions represent a promising strategy for promoting the health, safety and human rights of migrant sex workers. Tailored community empowerment interventions addressing the unique migration-related contexts and challenges faced by migrant sex workers should be a focus of future community-based research, alongside promotion of broader structural changes.
Highlights
Women comprise nearly half of international migrants worldwide and in Latin America and the Caribbean, a region representing 15 per cent (37 million) of the global international migrant stock in 2015 (244 million) [1]
Peer support was found to be critical for reducing social isolation; improving access to HIV/ STI knowledge, prevention and resources; and mitigating workplace violence, at the initial stages of migration and sex work
Peer support was especially critical for countering social isolation, and peers represented a valuable source of HIV/STI prevention knowledge and resources, as well as essential safety supports in the workplace
Summary
Women comprise nearly half of international migrants worldwide and in Latin America and the Caribbean, a region representing 15 per cent (37 million) of the global international migrant stock in 2015 (244 million) [1]. Gender inequities, racialization and discrimination, and legal barriers related to migration status in destination communities are among the barriers which commonly limit migrant women’s access to conventional labour markets, resulting in their over-representation in precarious and under-regulated forms of work, including the sex industry [6,10]. Migrant women engaged in sex work often face intersecting health-related challenges,–such as violence, elevated risk of HIV/STI infection, abuse/extortion from authorities and social isolation, all of which operate at multiple levels [5,9,11]. This article analyses the role of peer support in shaping vulnerability and resilience related to HIV/STI prevention and violence among international migrant sex workers at the Mexico-Guatemala border
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
