Surviving pandemic control measures: The experiences of female sex workers during COVID-19 in Nairobi, Kenya
ABSTRACTAt the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kenya Ministry of Health instituted movement cessation measures and limits on face-to-face meetings. We explore the ways in which female sex workers (FSWs) in Nairobi were affected by the COVID-19 control measures and the ways they coped with th...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Global Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2023.2290117 |
| _version_ | 1797384579878748160 |
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| author | Hellen Babu Rhoda Wanjiru Mamtuti Paneh Emily Nyariki James Pollock Jennifer Liku Alicja Beksinka Mary Kung’u Pooja Shah Tara Beattie Joshua Kimani Janet Seeley |
| author_facet | Hellen Babu Rhoda Wanjiru Mamtuti Paneh Emily Nyariki James Pollock Jennifer Liku Alicja Beksinka Mary Kung’u Pooja Shah Tara Beattie Joshua Kimani Janet Seeley |
| author_sort | Hellen Babu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACTAt the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kenya Ministry of Health instituted movement cessation measures and limits on face-to-face meetings. We explore the ways in which female sex workers (FSWs) in Nairobi were affected by the COVID-19 control measures and the ways they coped with the hardships. Forty-seven women were randomly sampled from the Maisha Fiti study, a longitudinal study of 1003 FSWs accessing sexual reproductive health services in Nairobi for an in-depth qualitative interview 4–5 months into the pandemic. We sought to understand the effects of COVID-19 on their lives. Data were transcribed, translated, and coded inductively. The COVID-19 measures disenfranchised FSWs reducing access to healthcare, decreasing income and increasing sexual, physical, and financial abuse by clients and law enforcement. Due to the customer-facing nature of their work, sex workers were hit hard by the COVID-19 restrictions. FSWs experienced poor mental health and strained interpersonal relationships. To cope they skipped meals, reduced alcohol use and smoking, started small businesses to supplement sex work or relocated to their rural homes. Interventions that ensure continuity of access to health services, prevent exploitation, and ensure the social and economic protection of FSWs during times of economic strain are required. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:37:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ee4fad6dd67c473dbf6882a087ab9ec7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1744-1692 1744-1706 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:37:39Z |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-ee4fad6dd67c473dbf6882a087ab9ec72023-12-20T21:27:08ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Public Health1744-16921744-17062024-12-0119110.1080/17441692.2023.2290117Surviving pandemic control measures: The experiences of female sex workers during COVID-19 in Nairobi, KenyaHellen Babu0Rhoda Wanjiru1Mamtuti Paneh2Emily Nyariki3James Pollock4Jennifer Liku5Alicja Beksinka6Mary Kung’u7Pooja Shah8Tara Beattie9Joshua Kimani10Janet Seeley11Clinical research, Partners for Health and Development in Africa, Nairobi, KenyaClinical research, Partners for Health and Development in Africa, Nairobi, KenyaGlobal Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UKGlobal Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UKImmunology, University of Toronto, Kings College, Toronto, CanadaClinical research, Partners for Health and Development in Africa, Nairobi, KenyaGlobal Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UKClinical research, Partners for Health and Development in Africa, Nairobi, KenyaGlobal Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UKGlobal Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UKClinical research, Partners for Health and Development in Africa, Nairobi, KenyaGlobal Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UKABSTRACTAt the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kenya Ministry of Health instituted movement cessation measures and limits on face-to-face meetings. We explore the ways in which female sex workers (FSWs) in Nairobi were affected by the COVID-19 control measures and the ways they coped with the hardships. Forty-seven women were randomly sampled from the Maisha Fiti study, a longitudinal study of 1003 FSWs accessing sexual reproductive health services in Nairobi for an in-depth qualitative interview 4–5 months into the pandemic. We sought to understand the effects of COVID-19 on their lives. Data were transcribed, translated, and coded inductively. The COVID-19 measures disenfranchised FSWs reducing access to healthcare, decreasing income and increasing sexual, physical, and financial abuse by clients and law enforcement. Due to the customer-facing nature of their work, sex workers were hit hard by the COVID-19 restrictions. FSWs experienced poor mental health and strained interpersonal relationships. To cope they skipped meals, reduced alcohol use and smoking, started small businesses to supplement sex work or relocated to their rural homes. Interventions that ensure continuity of access to health services, prevent exploitation, and ensure the social and economic protection of FSWs during times of economic strain are required.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2023.2290117Sex workersCOVID-19non-pharmacological measuresKenya |
| spellingShingle | Hellen Babu Rhoda Wanjiru Mamtuti Paneh Emily Nyariki James Pollock Jennifer Liku Alicja Beksinka Mary Kung’u Pooja Shah Tara Beattie Joshua Kimani Janet Seeley Surviving pandemic control measures: The experiences of female sex workers during COVID-19 in Nairobi, Kenya Global Public Health Sex workers COVID-19 non-pharmacological measures Kenya |
| title | Surviving pandemic control measures: The experiences of female sex workers during COVID-19 in Nairobi, Kenya |
| title_full | Surviving pandemic control measures: The experiences of female sex workers during COVID-19 in Nairobi, Kenya |
| title_fullStr | Surviving pandemic control measures: The experiences of female sex workers during COVID-19 in Nairobi, Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | Surviving pandemic control measures: The experiences of female sex workers during COVID-19 in Nairobi, Kenya |
| title_short | Surviving pandemic control measures: The experiences of female sex workers during COVID-19 in Nairobi, Kenya |
| title_sort | surviving pandemic control measures the experiences of female sex workers during covid 19 in nairobi kenya |
| topic | Sex workers COVID-19 non-pharmacological measures Kenya |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2023.2290117 |
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