Quality of life from women's perspective in the exercise of sex work: a study of social representations.
Pablo Luiz Santos Couto, Maria Luisa Pereira Neves, Luiz Carlos Moraes França and 5 others
PMID 37255184WHAT IT FOUND
Sex workers defined quality of life through income that funds family survival, health access, and safety from violence.
Stigma forced secrecy from family and society. Faith in God was cited as a key tool for emotional balance and resilience against daily adversities.
Key findings
01Income from sex work was viewed as the primary means to achieve quality of life by supporting families and accessing health services.
02Fear of violence and social stigma led many women to keep their profession secret from family and friends.
03Belief in God was represented as a crucial strategy for maintaining mental health and emotional balance.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study used a convenience sample from a single region in Brazil, so the findings may not represent sex workers in other areas or contexts. Stigma and fear of exposure likely prevented some women from participating, which may bias the sample toward those who were more willing to disclose their work. The cross-sectional nature of the interviews provides a snapshot of perceptions rather than tracking changes in quality of life over time.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these themes as evidence of the effectiveness of any specific nursing intervention. The study describes how women perceive their own quality of life and coping strategies; it does not test whether clinical care changes these outcomes.