If a survey is to be believed then street sex workers face great health risks in comparison to their counterparts, who operate from parlours. These findings have come to fore in a survey that was conducted in Bristol, UK. The prime reason behind such a high level of risk is the use of drugs by street prostitutes. In UK it’s a norm amongst street prostitutes to resort to drugs while entertaining their clients. They also consume it to assuage their pangs and to boost self-esteem. On the other hand in parlours where the profession if much more organized sex workers consume less of intoxicating drugs and as a result face less health risks.
During the course of survey as many as 71 prostitutes were interviewed both from streets and parlours. And it was found that only four parlours’ prostitutes resort to heroine, whereas this number is alarmingly high at 60 amongst street sex workers. Which make them highly susceptible to dreaded diseases like abscesses, deep vein thrombosis, chest infections and hepatitis B and C, and even mental ailments like anxiety and depression. The lack accessibility to medicines makes the matter worse and more often then not these prostitutes succumb to their ailments.
Though rehabilitation has been suggested as a possible tool to tackle the growing health risks amongst street prostitutes. However in this situation it becomes imperative to spread awareness amongst these sex worker and also to seriously mull to legalise the oldest profession of the world. So these prostitutes don’t face uncalled health hazards while struggling to secure two square meals.
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Source: Newscientist