Women Trading Sex in a U.S.-Mexico Border City: A Qualitative Study of the Barriers and Facilitators to Finding Community and Voice

摘要: Poverty and income inequality can increase a woman’s decision to engage in risky transactional sex, may lead unimaginable harms, such as violence, substance use, human trafficking. This study examines the facilitators barriers finding community voice among women trading sex Tijuana, Mexico, what factors, socio-structural support, impact their potential with others, including service providers. Sixty qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted Mexico. Researchers met participants for in-depth-face-to-face structured interviews. Data coded using ATLAS.ti. Participants aged 19–73 (mean: 37), 98% of Mexican nationality, 90% reported independent control 58% identified street-based. Thirty percent use (excluding marijuana) 20% injection drug within 30 days. The majority no involvement mobilization activities, but 85% expressed interest. However, included stigma, cultural gender norms, partner privacy regards disclosure trade involvement, moral conflict (revealing one’s trade), trafficking, feeling powerless. Facilitators having safe space meet, peer self-esteem, heard, knowledge rights, economic need support families, staying healthy. Findings imply go beyond mobilizing limited groups instead involve whole mobilization; that is, reach include more vulnerable (substance trafficked) supportive services (social services, exit strategies, better healthcare opportunities, and/or education providers help break societal stigmas regarding trade) change status society general.