Adolescence, migration and
sex work are independent risk factors for HIV and other poor health outcomes.
They are usually targeted separately with little consideration on how their
intersection can enhance vulnerability.
We interviewed ten women in Zimbabwe
who experienced sex work and migration during adolescence, exploring
implications for their health and for services to meet their needs. For most,
mobility was routine throughout childhood due to family instability and
political upheaval. The determinants of mobility, e.g. inability to pay school
fees or desire for independence from difficult circumstances, also catalysed
entry into sex work, which then led to further migration to maximise income.
Respondents described their adolescence as a time of both vulnerability and
opportunity, during which they developed survival skills. While these women did
not fit neatly into separate risk profiles of "sex worker"
"migrant" or "adolescent", the overlap of these experiences
shaped their health and access to services.
To address the needs of marginalised
populations we must understand the intersection of multiple risks, avoiding
simplified assumptions about each category.
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at:
- 1London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom. Electronic address: joanna.busza@lshtm.ac.uk.
- 2The Centre for Sexual Health and HIV AIDS Research, Zimbabwe.
- 3The Centre for Sexual Health and HIV AIDS Research, Zimbabwe; University College London, United Kingdom.
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