Barriers to health service access among female migrant Ugandan sex workers in Guangzhou, China

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  • Davis, Alissa
    • Other Affiliation: HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, Division of Gender, Sexuality & Health, Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Dr, Unit 15, New York, NY 10032, USA; UNC-Project China, 2 Lujing Road, Guangzhou, China
  • Meyerson, Beth E
    • Other Affiliation: Department of Applied Health Science Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, 1025 E 7th St. Rm PH116, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA; Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention, Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, Bloomington, USA
  • Aghaulor, Blessing
    • Affiliation: School of Medicine
  • Brown, Katherine
    • Other Affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California-San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Avenue, Rm. 1483, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
  • Watson, Adisyn
    • Other Affiliation: UNC-Project China, 2 Lujing Road, Guangzhou, China
  • Muessig, Kathryn
    • Affiliation: Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Health Behavior
  • Yang, Ligang
    • Other Affiliation: Guangdong Provincial STD Control Center, 2 Lujing Road, 11th Floor, Guangzhou 510095, China
  • Tucker, Joseph
    • Affiliation: School of Medicine
    • Other Affiliation: UNC-Project China, 2 Lujing Road, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial STD Control Center, 2 Lujing Road, 11th Floor, Guangzhou 510095, China
Abstract
  • Abstract Background Increased trade between China and Uganda has fueled trafficking of female Ugandans into China. These women may face challenges accessing health services. This study focused on examining barriers to health care access among female Ugandan sex workers in China. Methods In 2014, we undertook in-depth interviews with 19 female Ugandan sex workers in Guangzhou, China. Interviews focused on barriers to health service access and were analyzed using an a priori coding framework followed by open-coding to capture emergent themes. Results Out of 19 women, 12 women reported a history of being trafficked into China. None of the women had a valid Chinese visa. Fear of being arrested for lack of documentation discouraged women in this sample from accessing hospital services. Low pay, housing exploitation, and remittances contributed to participants’ lack of financial resources, which further inhibited their ability to access health services. Participants expressed feeling social isolation from the local community and reported mistrust of local individuals and organizations, including hospitals. Conclusion Ugandan sex workers in China faced substantial structural barriers that limited health service access. Policy changes and the development of new programs are urgently needed to ensure these women have improved access to health services.
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  • Article
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  • In Copyright
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  • The Author(s).
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  • English
Bibliographic citation
  • International Journal for Equity in Health. 2016 Oct 14;15(1):170
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  • BioMed Central

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