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Vol 37, (7) 590-592

Sexual health care for sex workers

Danielle Esler MBBS(Hons), BMedSci(Hons), FRACGP, MPH, is Clinical Director of Population Health, Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area Health Service District, Queensland.

Catriona Ooi MBBS, BSc(Med), MM (HIV/STIs), FaCHSHM, is Director of Sexual Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, and School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, New South Wales.

Tony Merritt MBBS, MPH, TM, FAFPHM, FRACGP, is a public health physician, Hunter New England Population Health Unit, Newcastle, New South Wales.

BACKGROUND The Australian STI Prevention Framework identifies sex workers as a priority group. The Hunter New England Sexual Health Unit, based at the Royal Newcastle Hospital (New South Wales) provides free sexual health care to sex industry workers.

OBJECTIVE To assess current service delivery and barriers to accessing sexual health care by registered brothel based sex industry workers in the Hunter New England area.

METHOD An on site survey of 36 sex industry workers was conducted.

RESULTS Seventy-four percent of participants sought sexual health advice from a general practitioner compared to 37% from the sexual health unit. Seventy-seven percent of participants reported having their sexual health screening carried out according to guidelines. The most frequently stated reason for not using the sexual health unit was the inconvenience of clinic opening times.

DISCUSSION This study highlights the important role that GPs play in providing sexual health care to sex industry workers. It provides the impetus for future research, education and strategies to improve health service delivery to this important group of patients.

Publication Date: 23 June 2008
Authorised By: Australian Family Physician