Utilisation of sexual health services by female sex workers in Nepal.

Abstract

I found this article interesting because it verifies anecdotal information from female sex-workers in Kenya. The authors show that female sex-workers, a high percentage (30%) of whom have sexually transmitied diseases, prefer to seek treatment in non-governmental health facilities. This is due to long waiting times, negative attitudes towards them, lack of confidentiality and fear of being labeled and exposed to the public in public health facilities. Although the cost of care in public health facilities in Kenya is lower compared to private facilities, they prefer to go to the latter because good public relations is practiced. The study shows strengths and weaknesses in public health facilities in responding to the sexual health of women and female sex-workers that can be translated into Challenges which, if analyzed and packaged appropriately, can meet the sexual health needs of women and sex-workers.