A matter of guesSWork... are sexual health services meeting the needs of male sex workers?

Turner, Kevin; Chapman, Cordelia; Meyrick, Jane

Abstract

Introduction:
Male sex workers (MSW’s) are reported to have poorer sexual health outcomes in comparison to their female counterparts, often experiencing barriers to accessing prevention or treatment services with little research evidencing their experiences.

This audit aims to examine the prevalence and attendance needs of MSW's accessing a local sexual health service to further inform interventions to support their wellbeing.

Method:
A retrospective audit was undertaken using GUMCAD coding to identify sex worker (SW) attendances to the GUM department at Royal Bournemouth Hospital between 01/01/2019 and 31/01/2020. Notes were reviewed to examine demographic characteristics, services provided and sexual health outcomes.

Results:
16 SWs were identified in the audit. 19% (3/16) were registered as a new patient, 81% (13/16) had previously attended. All were female, the average age was 34 years, the youngest and eldest were aged 20 and 60 retrospectively. 69% (11/16) identified as heterosexual, 25% (4/16) bisexual and 6% (1/16) pansexual.

44% (7/16) presented with symptoms including genital sores (43%), warts (14%) and genital pain (14%). 13% (2/16) attended following a sexual assault and 6% (1/16) as a contact of an infection.

All patients undertook routine sexual health testing. 19% (3/16) received screening at extra genital sites for chlamydia and gonorrhoea. No further treatment was required for any of the attendees.

Discussion:
SW’s accessing sexual health services attended with symptoms, as a contact of an infection or following a sexual assault generally requiring services outside the scope of asymptomatic home testing.

MSW’s were under represented in clinical attendances. Further research exploring broader experiences of men selling sex for money (MSSM) would address barriers or improve in-service disclosure of sex work and assist in the development of meaningful interventions to improve sexual health outcomes. Additional training materials around ascertaining SW status in a consistent and non-judgemental way could enhance the quality of data collected.

• Presentation Conference Type: Poster
• Conference Name: British Association for Sexual Health & HIV (BASHH) Annual Conference
• Start Date: Oct 19, 2020
• End Date: Oct 20, 2020
• Deposit Date: Jul 9, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 10, 2024
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/12118572