Health disparities among different groups still exist amidst aggressive universal health coverage campaigns. Institutional barriers within healthcare facilities remain the main cause of this disparity. Sex workers may be disrespected or experience longer waiting periods in the healthcare facilities. Hence, they may postpone or foregoe healthcare altogether, which can adversely affect their health. Insufficient training of healthcare workers is a risk factor to this problem; hence, improved medical training on health policies focusing on anti-discrimination should be integrated in entire continuum of care. (Socias et al. 6).
Structural barriers create health disparity among sex workers. Sex work criminalization underminessafety of health of sex workers and leads to marginalization and stigma. Hence, policy reforms should be initiated to ensure that sex workers access same health care as other populations (Goldenberg et al. 77).
Laws and policies also lead to health disparities among sex workers. Exploitive policing like sex workers criminalization increases risk of infections, physical and sexual violence among sex workers. Policing practices isolate sex workers, which minimize positive efforts, such as client negotiation, screening, carrying condoms, and working in groups which are expected to reduce risks. Some policies such asconfiscation of needles, syringes, and condoms lead to increased risks in HIV and STIs. More so, some of such policies may violatehuman rights. Hence, need for law reforms accompanied by policies to decrease stigma, structural inequalities and exclusion. (Platt et al. 6).
Works Cited
Goldenberg, M. Shira, et al. “Structural Barriers to Antiretroviral Therapy Among Sex Workers Living with HIV: Findings of a Longitudinal Study in Vancouver, Canada.” AIDS and behavior, vol. 20, no. 5, 2016, pp 77-86. doi:10.1007/s10461-015-1102-2
Socías, M. Eugenia, et al. “Universal Coverage without Universal Access: Institutional Barriers to Health Care among Women Sex Workers in Vancouver, Canada.” PloS One, vol. 11, no. 5, 2016, pp. 1-15. doi:10.1371/0155828
Platt, Lucy, et al. “Associations Between Sex Work Laws and Sex Workers’ Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Quantitative and Qualitative Studies.” PLoS Medicine, vol. 15, no. 12, 2018, pp. 1-54. doi:10.1371/1002680
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