Paper short abstract:

This paper analyses the intervention carried out in the context of indoor prostitution and the discourses of female migrant sex workers about the health care sector. The data shows obstacles that oppose to sex workers' access to the health care system and the discriminatory practices towards them.

Paper long abstract:

First author: Alexandra OLIVEIRA, U Porto; second author: Marta MAIA, CRIA

Female sex workers are particularly vulnerable to HIV/Aids and other STI, both because they have multiple partners and because, within commercial sex, they are somewhat pressured to have unprotected sexual relations.

At the present, there is a large proportion of migrants in prostitution, in Europe, and their immigrant status represents a second situation of vulnerability. Furthermore, the lack of social and familiar ties of some of these sex workers facilitates the emergence of interpersonal problems and psychological discomfort. All these factors can cause a low well-being and potentiate high-risk health behaviours.

The migrant' illegal situation, aggravated by the informal nature of sex work and the stigmatization, become real obstacles in accessing health care.

In this paper, based on the experience of out reach work with this population, we reflect on the intervention carried out in the context of apartment prostitution and the way this practices can stimulate new knowledge. Based on interviews with migrant women in the context of indoor prostitution, specifically those located in apartments, we also focused on their discourses in what concerns to the way institutional practices, of formal and informal health services, affect their well-being and health.

The outcomes identify the role of the intervention projects and the obstacles opposing the access to the health care system and to HIV/Aids and STI prevention, the contexts in which such obstacles emerge and the discriminatory practices towards migrant female sex workers, all contributing to potentiate stigma and affect their well-being.