Women engaged in prostitution and COVID-19: why are they excluded from socially vulnerable groups?

Chiang, Michelle Ishida; Basile, Maitê Leite; Souza, Ana Beatriz Pereira de; Moccagatta, Isabella Dastler; Vieira, Julia Rabello Guerra; Lourenço, Thaís Rocha; Gonçalves, Mariana Langanke; Pinto, Helena Afférri Fernandes; Lowenthal, Rosane; Ferrer, Michele Lacerda Pereira; Klautau, Giselle Burlamaqui

doi:10.11606/s1518-8787.2022056004229

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Brief communication • Rev. Saúde Pública 56 • 2022 • https://doi.org/10.11606/s1518-8787.2022056004229 linkcopy

Women engaged in prostitution and COVID-19: why are they excluded from socially vulnerable groups?

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

ABSTRACT

This study analyzed the exposure of women engaged in prostitution in downtown São Paulo to COVID-19. This cross-sectional study had a convenience sample selected in May 2021. We interviewed 219, mostly black, middle-aged, poor women with comorbidities. Among them, 61 had shown COVID-19 symptoms, 23, tested positive for the disease, seven underwent hospitalization, and four reported post-COVID-19 complications. Only 26 (30.2%) had been vaccinated. In addition to gender, race, and class inequalities, these women suffer both from a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 due to their working conditions and from the subsequent worsening of that disease due to age and lack of vaccination.

Women; Sex Workers; COVID-19, epidemiology; Risk Factors; Gender Inequality; Race Factors

	n	%
Age group
19–30	51	23.3
31–40	59	26.9
41–50	60	27.4
51–60	33	15.1
≥ 61	16	7.3
Gender identity
Cisgender	164	78.8
Transgender	44	21.1
Ethnicity
White	64	29.4
Black	61	28.0
Mixed	90	41.3
Indigenous	3	1.4
Income group^a
A	0	0
B1	3	1.4
B2	7	3.2
C	77	35.2
D/E	132	60.3
Housing
Streets or shelters	20	9.2
Pension	29	13.3
Provisionally with friends or family	14	6.4
Owner-occupancy	47	21.6
Rented house or apartment	93	42.7
Other	15	6.9
Weekly work frequency
1	10	4.6
2	23	10.5
3	34	15.5
4	25	11.4
5	29	13.2
6	23	10.5
7	75	34.2
Number of tricks turned/week
Minimum = 1 \| Maximum = 112	Média = 18.5	DP = 14.7
Up to 10	74	33.8
11–20	62	28.3
21–30	50	22.8
31–40	14	6.4
More than 40	19	8.7
Tricks/day
1	16	7.3
2	54	24.7
3	54	24.7
4	39	17.8
5	24	11.0
≥ 6	32	14.6
Trick location
Hotel/motel	212	96.8
Car	21	9.6
Client’s house	17	7.8
Street	14	6.4
2In their own home	9	4.1
Other	4	1.8
Use of mask during sessions
Yes	129	59.4
No	58	26.7
Occasionally	30	13.8
Symptoms of COVID-19 infection (n = 61)
Fever	34	55.7
Dry cough	38	62.3
Fatigue	28	45.9
Nasal discharge	16	26.2
Anosmia	21	34.4
Ageusia	18	29.5
Diarrhea	14	23.0
Nausea or vomiting	10	16.4
Other	4	6.6
Positive result for COVID-19 (n = 197)
Yes	23	11.7
No	174	88.3
Hospitalization for the disease (n = 156)
Yes	7	4.5
No	149	95.5
COVID-19 complications (n = 23)
Yes	4	17.4%
No	19	82.6%

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Faculdade de Saúde Pública da Universidade de São Paulo Avenida Dr. Arnaldo, 715, 01246-904 São Paulo SP Brazil, Tel./Fax: +55 11 3061-7985 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: revsp@usp.br

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[TFN1] ^a According to the 2013 Brazilian Economic Classification Criteria (CCEB 2013) of the Brazilian Association of Research Companies (ABEP).