Access to Healthcare in a time of COVID-19: Sex Workers in Crisis in Nairobi, Kenya

Susan Gichuna; Rahma Hassan; Teela  Sanders; Rosie Campbell; Mercy Mutonyi; Peninah Mwangi

doi:10.1080/17441692.2020.1810298

Access to Healthcare in a time of COVID-19: Sex Workers in Crisis in Nairobi, Kenya

Susan Gichuna, Rahma Hassan, Teela Sanders, Rosie Campbell, Mercy Mutonyi, Peninah Mwangi

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

64 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper uses empirical data collected from 117 female sex workers living in informal settlements in Nairobi and 15 healthcare providers to highlight specific effects of COVID-19 and related restrictions on healthcare access for the sex workers. We highlight the existing gender and health inequalities that have now been reinforced by the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, we focus on the most concerning healthcare needs for the sex workers including HIV prevention, care and treatment and sexual and reproductive healthcare. Our study findings reveal that the various restrictions imposed by the government to help curb the spread of COVID-19 to a large extent made it difficult for the sex workers to access their healthcare needs. The paper discusses the challenges of healthcare service delivery reflecting on some innovative and pioneering responses from health care providers to address the emergency situation.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1430-1442
Number of pages	13
Journal	Global Public Health
Volume	15
Issue number	10
Early online date	20 Aug 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2020.1810298
Publication status	Published - 2 Oct 2020
Externally published	Yes

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Access to Healthcare in a time of COVID-19: Sex Workers in Crisis in Nairobi, Kenya

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