Doctors Could Do Better, Specially for Sex Workers

Isn’t it rare to find a doctor or a health worker with no prejudices about a sexworker. Is it? Most of the time it is seen they relate the disorder to the profession of the sexworker. Does it really have a connection?

A sex worker always feels it shrinking telling a health worker what she does for her livelihood. They fear if the doctor would either show a hatred feeling towards their profession, or feel anxious treating them. They say, “We can sense a changed behavior of the health worker suddenly after getting our professions known.” Some say, “From that moment on, that starts making excuses of the unavailability of the medical staff or equipment, just to escape treating us”.

Sex workers are diverse by profession, the this don’t make any difference in their rights. The fundamental right, ‘Right To Health’ falls equally for them. The medical staff plays a vital role here in making them able to access the services like healthcare, as they are more likely to get an STD/ STI.

What Makes It Necessary to Visit a Doctor?

Undoubtedly, a sexworker is more likely to be caught by an STD. Proven by WHO, a sex worker is 30 time more likely to be HIV+ than the general population. Also, there are more chances for them to get any injuries or inflammations down there. An eye needs to be kept on their fertility either, as this may turn into pregnancy later.

Any of these problems can turn things to disaster if not treated timely making  their regular diagnosis crucial.

This profession, making a quick source of income makes healthcare more vulnerable for themselves though. A survey tells, doctors behaves differently with the people engages in market sex. A lot of times they refuse to attend them. Such behavior of the medical workers make basic health services difficult for them.

How Can a Doctor Make It Better?

Medical awareness becomes more necessary for a sex worker, as they are at a very high risk of chronic diseases and other communicable diseases. This makes it more necessary for them to be aware of their health.

The medical workers can be of great help for them. HIV infections, Hepatitis, Tuberculosis, Mental health disorders are some of the common diseases the health workers should make them aware of. Integrated treatment technologies should be lightened up by the medical staff including Vaccination, HIV pre- exposure prophylaxis etc. that are capable of preventing them from getting infected.

Promoting safe sex and contraceptry methods in order to spread sexuality education is the simplest way for introducing the safe sex techniques. Treatment of sexually transmittes infections among sex workers should be promoted and accepted by the medical services. Single dose oral regimens should be introduced and promoted.

Not only for themselves, the health workers should educate them for the health and safety of their clients as well. This action can reduce the sexually transmitted disorders to a great extent.

Caring themselves is equally important. Educating them to adore themselves, self love and hygiene can improve their reproductive health and hence will reduce the transmission of infections.

What Should Health Workers Take Care Of?

Caring for a sex worker needs  flexibility, acceptance and respect.  The very basic need is to understand that the sex workers have been pushed into this profession by various factors including poverty, family, lack of educations etc. It is not the profession they have chosen for themselves. Hence, we have to make them compatible with us.

Being Non- Judgmental is the basic attitude a sex worker wishes for. Showing some respect and acceptance towards them will definitely make them feel safe.

Sex workers often hide their involvement in sex work to the fear of being treated poorly. If they disclose what they do for their living, they experience disrespect, shaming, disapproval, and other questioning. Getting such behavior from the medical workers makes them feel hesitant to ask for any query or what they are going through. The clinical staff should be trained such a way to make these people open with them.

Along with the treatment, the health worker should communicate nicely with them, so that they won’t need to hesitate to ask for any medical help whenever they need.

Not only the doctors, we all should have to accept them with an open heart. They are all the same like us. Their profession doesn’t make any difference in who they are.  Respect them, they are just earning bread for their families.