The role of sex work laws and stigmas in increasing HIV risks among sex workers

Carrie E. Lyons; Sheree R. Schwartz; Sarah M. Murray; Kate Shannon; Daouda Diouf; Tampose Mothopeng; Seni Kouanda; Anato Simplice; Abo Kouame; Zandile Mnisi; Ubald Tamoufe; Nancy Phaswana-Mafuya; Bai Cham; Fatou M. Drame; Mamadú Aliu Djaló; Stefan Baral

doi:10.1038/s41467-020-14593-6

The role of sex work laws and stigmas in increasing HIV risks among sex workers

Carrie E. Lyons, Sheree R. Schwartz, Sarah M. Murray, Kate Shannon, Daouda Diouf, Tampose Mothopeng, Seni Kouanda, Anato Simplice, Abo Kouame, Zandile Mnisi, Ubald Tamoufe, Nancy Phaswana-Mafuya, Bai Cham, Fatou M. Drame, Mamadú Aliu Djaló, Stefan Baral

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

71 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Globally HIV incidence is slowing, however HIV epidemics among sex workers are stable or increasing in many settings. While laws governing sex work are considered structural determinants of HIV, individual-level data assessing this relationship are limited. In this study, individual-level data are used to assess the relationships of sex work laws and stigmas in increasing HIV risk among female sex workers, and examine the mechanisms by which stigma affects HIV across diverse legal contexts in countries across sub-Saharan Africa. Interviewer-administered socio-behavioral questionnaires and biological testing were conducted with 7259 female sex workers between 2011–2018 across 10 sub-Saharan African countries. These data suggest that increasingly punitive and non-protective laws are associated with prevalent HIV infection and that stigmas and sex work laws may synergistically increase HIV risks. Taken together, these data highlight the fundamental role of evidence-based and human-rights affirming policies towards sex work as part of an effective HIV response.

Original language	English
Article number	773
Journal	Nature Communications
Volume	11
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-14593-6
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2020
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Chemistry
General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
Multidisciplinary
General Physics and Astronomy

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1038/s41467-020-14593-6

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Lyons, C. E., Schwartz, S. R., Murray, S. M., Shannon, K., Diouf, D., Mothopeng, T., Kouanda, S., Simplice, A., Kouame, A., Mnisi, Z., Tamoufe, U., Phaswana-Mafuya, N., Cham, B., Drame, F. M., Aliu Djaló, M., & Baral, S. (2020). The role of sex work laws and stigmas in increasing HIV risks among sex workers. Nature Communications, 11(1), Article 773. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-14593-6

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abstract = "Globally HIV incidence is slowing, however HIV epidemics among sex workers are stable or increasing in many settings. While laws governing sex work are considered structural determinants of HIV, individual-level data assessing this relationship are limited. In this study, individual-level data are used to assess the relationships of sex work laws and stigmas in increasing HIV risk among female sex workers, and examine the mechanisms by which stigma affects HIV across diverse legal contexts in countries across sub-Saharan Africa. Interviewer-administered socio-behavioral questionnaires and biological testing were conducted with 7259 female sex workers between 2011–2018 across 10 sub-Saharan African countries. These data suggest that increasingly punitive and non-protective laws are associated with prevalent HIV infection and that stigmas and sex work laws may synergistically increase HIV risks. Taken together, these data highlight the fundamental role of evidence-based and human-rights affirming policies towards sex work as part of an effective HIV response.",

author = "Lyons, {Carrie E.} and Schwartz, {Sheree R.} and Murray, {Sarah M.} and Kate Shannon and Daouda Diouf and Tampose Mothopeng and Seni Kouanda and Anato Simplice and Abo Kouame and Zandile Mnisi and Ubald Tamoufe and Nancy Phaswana-Mafuya and Bai Cham and Drame, {Fatou M.} and {Aliu Djal{\'o}}, Mamad{\'u} and Stefan Baral",

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Lyons, CE, Schwartz, SR, Murray, SM, Shannon, K, Diouf, D, Mothopeng, T, Kouanda, S, Simplice, A, Kouame, A, Mnisi, Z, Tamoufe, U, Phaswana-Mafuya, N, Cham, B, Drame, FM, Aliu Djaló, M & Baral, S 2020, 'The role of sex work laws and stigmas in increasing HIV risks among sex workers', Nature Communications, vol. 11, no. 1, 773. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-14593-6

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AU - Mnisi, Zandile

AU - Tamoufe, Ubald

AU - Phaswana-Mafuya, Nancy

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AB - Globally HIV incidence is slowing, however HIV epidemics among sex workers are stable or increasing in many settings. While laws governing sex work are considered structural determinants of HIV, individual-level data assessing this relationship are limited. In this study, individual-level data are used to assess the relationships of sex work laws and stigmas in increasing HIV risk among female sex workers, and examine the mechanisms by which stigma affects HIV across diverse legal contexts in countries across sub-Saharan Africa. Interviewer-administered socio-behavioral questionnaires and biological testing were conducted with 7259 female sex workers between 2011–2018 across 10 sub-Saharan African countries. These data suggest that increasingly punitive and non-protective laws are associated with prevalent HIV infection and that stigmas and sex work laws may synergistically increase HIV risks. Taken together, these data highlight the fundamental role of evidence-based and human-rights affirming policies towards sex work as part of an effective HIV response.

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The role of sex work laws and stigmas in increasing HIV risks among sex workers

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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