Behavioral Changes, Adaptation, and Supports among Indonesian Female Sex Workers Facing Dual Risk of COVID-19 and HIV in a Pandemic

Gede Benny Setia Wirawan, Brigitta Dhyah K. Wardhani, Putu Erma Pradnyani, Afriana Nurhalina, Nurjannah Sulaiman, Evi Sukmaningrum, Luh Putu Lila Wulandari and Pande Putu Januraga
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Gede Benny Setia Wirawan: Center for Public Health Innovation, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Denpasar 80113, Indonesia
Brigitta Dhyah K. Wardhani: Center for Public Health Innovation, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Denpasar 80113, Indonesia
Putu Erma Pradnyani: Center for Public Health Innovation, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Denpasar 80113, Indonesia
Afriana Nurhalina: Ministry of Health, Jakarta 12950, Indonesia
Nurjannah Sulaiman: Ministry of Health, Jakarta 12950, Indonesia
Evi Sukmaningrum: Faculty of Psychology, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Jakarta 12930, Indonesia
Luh Putu Lila Wulandari: Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2033, Australia
Pande Putu Januraga: Center for Public Health Innovation, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Denpasar 80113, Indonesia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 3, 1-14

Abstract: The objective of this study is to explore the impacts of COVID-19 and changes taking place among the Indonesian female sex worker (FSW) community during the COVID-19 pandemic and the predictors of these changes. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey and selected the participants using a purposive snowball sampling technique. Incentives were provided to participants in the form of a 5 USD e-wallet balance. Variables of interest included adaptation to online sex work, adherence to COVID-19 prevention measures during sex work, number of clients, income reduction, social support, condom access, and condom use frequency. Sociodemographic data and COVID-19 fear index values were also collected. Final analysis included 951 FSWs, of whom 36.4% of had adapted to online sex work and 48.6% had practiced COVID-19 prevention measures. Major reductions in client frequency and income were reported by 67.8% and 71.1% of respondents, respectively. However, only 36.3% of FSWs reported they had ever received any form of social support from any parties, public or private. Meanwhile, 16.7% encountered difficulties in accessing condoms and 12.5% reported less frequent condom use during the pandemic. Easy access to condoms was the main factor influencing the frequency of condom use. As expected, staying in employment protected FSWs from major income loss, while education and younger age predicted adaptive behavioral changes, such as taking up online sex work. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted access to socioeconomic support systems and HIV prevention services among FSWs and has further exposed them to the dual jeopardy of HIV and COVID-19 infections.

Keywords: female sex workers; COVID-19 pandemic; social support; HIV prevention; condom; online sex work; Indonesia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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