ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the health of female sex workers in terms of their reported level of health service usage. It presents a broad estimate of the prevalence of various Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and provides information on reproductive health. Very few women had used other specialised services such as STD clinics or family planning services. The qualitative interviews revealed a perception among some sex workers that a certain degree of stigma is attached to attendance at STD clinics. General practitioners tended to be perceived as offering a service that was more personalised and broader in its health focus when compared with the narrower focus of STD clinics. Some workers may have been unaware that they had a particular STD and for this reason the figures presented are likely to be conservative estimates of actual rates. Most workers reported having STD checks on a regular basis and the majority had checks at least every three months.
