School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X 1106, Sovenga, Polokwane 0727, South Africa.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024 Jun 29;21(7):852. doi: 10.3390/ijerph21070852.
Complex interactions exist between sex work and parenthood, impacting the lives of those in sex work who also provide care for others. This scoping review aims to review the experiences and challenges of female sex workers who are parents or caregivers, highlighting the socioeconomic, psychological, and legal dimensions of their dual roles. The rationale for this review stems from the recognition that sex workers who are also parents face unique and multifaceted challenges that significantly impact their wellbeing and that of their children. The five stages of a scoping review suggested by Arksey and O'Malley were followed in this study. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across electronic databases such as PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar. This study covered publications written in English from 2010 to 2023. Studies were selected based on their focus on sex workers who are parents or caregivers. Both qualitative and quantitative research articles were included. Thematic analysis was employed to synthesize findings across the selected studies. Studies published prior to 2013, studies that were not published in English, and studies that did not address the experiences of female sex workers who are parents or caregivers were excluded from this study. The review identified 14 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Five key themes emerged from this study: (1) social stigma and healthcare discrimination; (2) legal challenges; (3) mental nexus; (4) risk behaviors and exposing children to a hazardous environment; and (5) social support. Sex workers who are also parents or caregivers navigate a multifaceted landscape of challenges and resilience. Policy reforms are needed to reduce stigma, provide financial support, and ensure legal protections for this key population.
性工作者和父母身份之间存在复杂的相互作用，影响到那些从事性工作同时又照顾他人的人的生活。本范围综述旨在综述身为父母或照顾者的女性性工作者的经验和挑战，重点关注她们双重角色的社会经济、心理和法律层面。进行这项综述的理由是认识到同时身为父母的性工作者面临着独特且多方面的挑战，这些挑战对她们及其子女的福祉产生重大影响。本研究遵循 Arksey 和 O'Malley 提出的范围综述的五个阶段。在这项研究中，对包括 PubMed、PsycINFO 和 Google Scholar 在内的电子数据库进行了全面的文献检索。本研究涵盖了 2010 年至 2023 年期间用英语撰写的出版物。研究是基于其关注身为父母或照顾者的性工作者的重点选择的。纳入了定性和定量研究文章。采用主题分析来综合所选研究的发现。本研究排除了发表时间早于 2013 年的研究、未以英文发表的研究以及未涉及身为父母或照顾者的女性性工作者经验的研究。该综述确定了符合纳入标准的 14 项研究。本研究提出了五个关键主题：（1）社会耻辱和医疗保健歧视；（2）法律挑战；（3）心理联系；（4）风险行为和使儿童暴露于危险环境；以及（5）社会支持。同时身为父母或照顾者的性工作者在面临挑战和保持韧性的多方面环境中艰难前行。需要进行政策改革，以减少耻辱感、提供财政支持，并为这一关键人群提供法律保护。
