Interest in Sex Work-Related Resources Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men Engaged in Sex Work.

Abstract

Practicing sex work can present considerable risks to an individual's sexual health and overall well-being. Though resources tailored for sex workers can help mitigate such risks, little is known about male sex workers' interest in them. From 2018 to 2020, we conducted in-depth telephone interviews with 180 U.S. men who engaged in sex work with clients met online. We inquired about what sex work-related resources they were aware of or had used, the specific content of resources they would want, and whether they would use such resources or not. Few participants had used sex work-related resources, but many had found material related to sex work through organizations and online media. While some participants expressed interest in resources to help make their engagement in sex work safer and more profitable, others were interested in resources that would help them address the conditions that had led them to sex work in the first place. Participants also discussed some barriers to resource utilization such as low perceived need, privacy concerns, and low credibility of the material. Results show that there is substantial interest in sex work-related resources among men engaged in the practice. However, programs should carefully consider potential barriers to utilization when developing these resources.