Sexual Health | Sexual assault/abuse and medicolegal issues | Sex Workers

Sex Workers
Session Overview
Description
This session provides an overview of sex work focusing on the UK, and gives a practical introduction to the provision of clinical and preventive care for sex workers. The influence of contexts and attitudes in effective delivery of care is discussed.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Recognise the range of people involved in the sex industry and understand the different types and contexts of sex work
• Describe the law on sex work and how this may affect health and contact with health services
• Reflect upon your own attitudes to sex work
• State the risks of HIV and STI in sex work and the major determinants of these risks
• Describe an appropriate history, clinical examination and follow-up for a sex worker
• Recognise special situations where expert input may be required

This session provides a brief overview of sex work in the UK including the contexts, the key players, and the variation in health risks. It challenges you to think about your own attitudes to the sex industry with the aim of reducing any inappropriate or prejudicial interactions with sex workers or clients.

It explains:

• How to take an appropriate history
• Examination and management
• Preventive interventions

It also highlights some special situations in which more expert advice may be required.