Nature Communications (Feb 2020)

The role of sex work laws and stigmas in increasing HIV risks among sex workers

  • Carrie E. Lyons,
  • Sheree R. Schwartz,
  • Sarah M. Murray,
  • Kate Shannon,
  • Daouda Diouf,
  • Tampose Mothopeng,
  • Seni Kouanda,
  • Anato Simplice,
  • Abo Kouame,
  • Zandile Mnisi,
  • Ubald Tamoufe,
  • Nancy Phaswana-Mafuya,
  • Bai Cham,
  • Fatou M. Drame,
  • Mamadú Aliu Djaló,
  • Stefan Baral

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-14593-6
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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HIV incidence among sex workers remains high in many settings. Here, the authors utilize individual-level data across ten countries in sub-Saharan Africa and suggest that increasingly punitive and non-protective laws are associated with HIV, and that stigmas and sex work laws may operate jointly in increasing HIV risk.