ArticleInternational journal for equity in health2015
Reducing stigma in healthcare and law enforcement: a novel approach to service provision for street level sex workers.
Article in International journal for equity in health, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 27 citations in OpenAlex.
- HIV self-testing among female sex workers in Zambia: A cluster randomized controlled trial.PLoS medicine · 2017Trial
- Recommendations from Multi-Disciplinary Professionals for Survivor-Informed and Comprehensive Care for Human Trafficking Survivors.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Social-structural barriers to primary care among sex workers: findings from a community-based cohort in Vancouver, Canada (2014-2021).BMC health services research · 2025Article
- Structural Barriers to Primary Care Among Sex Workers: Findings from a Community- Based Cohort in Vancouver, Canada (2014-2021).Research square · 2024Article
- Structural racism and violence: Routine healthcare access in a cohort of marginalized Indigenous women and Two-Spirit Peoples during the COVID-19 Pandemic.Research square · 2023Article
- Violence, policing, and systemic racism as structural barriers to substance use treatment amongst women sex workers who use drugs: Findings of a community-based cohort in Vancouver, Canada (2010-2019).Drug and alcohol dependence · 2022Article
- Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Construct Validity of the Internalized Sex Work Stigma Scale among a Cohort of Cisgender Female Sex Workers in Baltimore, Maryland, United States.Journal of sex research · 2021Article
- Characterizing Health Care Access among Cisgender Female Sex Workers with Substance Use Histories in Baltimore, Maryland.Journal of health care for the poor and underserved · 2021Article
- Correlates of trichomoniasis among female sex workers who inject drugs in two Mexico-US border cities.International journal of STD & AIDS · 2020Article
- Police-related barriers to harm reduction linked to non-fatal overdose amongst sex workers who use drugs: Results of a community-based cohort in Metro Vancouver, Canada.The International journal on drug policy · 2020Article
- Canadian Sex Workers Weigh the Costs and Benefits of Disclosing Their Occupational Status to Health Providers.Sexuality research & social policy : journal of NSRC : SR & SP · 2019Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
introductionProviding services for street level sex workers requires a multidisciplinary approach, addressing both health and safety concerns typical of their age and gender and those that arise specific to their line of work. Despite being a diverse population, studies have identified some specific health needs for sex workers including addictions treatment, mental health. Additionally, studies have shown a higher risk of physical and sexual assault for this population. The Persons at Risk program (PAR) in London, Ontario, Canada was started in 2005 to address the specific needs of street level sex workers by using a harm-reduction model for policing and healthcare provision. This qualitative study evaluated this model of care in terms of improving access to healthcare and essential police services for street level sex workers.
methodsA total of 14 semi-structured interviews were conducted with current and former female street level sex workers enrolled in the PAR program. In addition, 3 semi-structured interviews were conducted with health and law enforcement professionals. The research team then analyzed and coded the transcripts using qualitative description to identify key themes in the data.
resultsResults indicated that participants represent a vulnerable population with increased safety concerns and healthcare needs relating to addictions, mental health and infectious disease. Despite this, participants reported avoiding healthcare workers and police officers in the past because of fear of stigma or repercussions. All participants identified the harm reduction approach of the PAR program as being essential to their continued engagement with the program. Other important aspects included flexible hours, the location of the clinic, streamlined access to mental health and addictions treatment and the female gender of the police and healthcare worker.
conclusionsThe PAR program provides sex workers access to much needed primary healthcare that is flexible and without judgment. In addition, they are provided with a direct avenue to access law enforcement. We feel a similar model of care could be applicable to many cities across Canada.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.