PUBH6000: Social Determinants of Health in Scenario of Sex Workers

PUBH6000: Social
Determinants of Health

Table of Content
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Context of potential health issue among the population of sex workers.....................................1
Social determinants of health in scenario of sex workers............................................................2
Influence of the key determinants on health behaviours and health outcomes in contrast for sex
workers.........................................................................................................................................3
Reflection.....................................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Social determinants of health are the factors which have an effect over health and quality
of life of people. Social determinants of health includes environmental factors, living conditions,
employment, poverty, financial status etc. The report includes the effect of social determinants
like inequalities, social exclusion, discrimination on sex workers. Sex workers are the people
who provide sexual services in exchange of money and other benefits such as housing,
transportation etc. Sex work is associated with challenges impacting health and well being of sex
workers as sex workers are prone to several communicable disease like AIDS and discrimination
on the basis of their profession at various levels like healthcare, education etc (Hill-Briggs & et.
al., (2021)). The report further includes the health issues among sex worker's population and
influence of key determinants on health behaviours and health outcomes in contrast for sex
workers.
MAIN BODY
Context of potential health issue among the population of sex workers
Sex workers are the people (men or women) involved in sexual services in exchange of
money, housing and other benefits. Sexual services are existed phenomenon of many counties
around the world. Sex work is associated with many health issues that are connected with both
physical and mental well beings. The most common risk associated with sexual services are
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, HIV, unintended pregnancies, violences, complication of unsafe
abortions etc. Along with that, the sex workers are vulnerable to depression, anxiety, suicidal
tendencies, psychological distress, drug abuse and poor mental health (Rethorn, Cook, &
Reneker, (2019)). Reason for such mental traumas are unfair treatment from police and health
professionals, violent men, dirty environment etc. Good health services are also unavailable for
sex workers due to discrimination they face on the basis of their profession. Other major health
conditions may include infertility, malignancy of cervix, uterus, herpes, gonorrhoea, chlamydia
etc. These STD risks are more serious in scenario of young girls as their genitals are not grown at
such young age and have a high probability of getting damaged during sexual intercourse. Sex
workers live areas separated from main locality and with few resources. These conditions make
them prone towards conditions like attacking, rape, robbery etc. The risks are major if the worker
is a child or teenager. Often the men use violence to keep over the control. Police protection in
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