Migration, Violence, and Safety Among Migrant Sex Workers: a Qualitative Study in Two Guatemalan Communities

Overview

Journal Cult Health Sex

Publisher Informa Healthcare

Specialty Social Sciences

Date 2016 Jul 22

PMID 27439656

Citations 15

Authors

Teresita Rocha-Jimenez

Kimberly C Brouwer

Jay G Silverman

Sonia Morales-Miranda

Shira M Goldenberg

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Despite reports of high levels of violence among women migrants in Central America, limited evidence exists regarding the health and safety of migrant sex workers in Central America. This study is based on 16 months of field research (November 2012-February 2014), including ethnographic fieldwork, in-depth interviews, and focus groups conducted with 52 internal and international migrant female sex workers in Tecún Umán and Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, key transit and destination communities for both international and internal migrants. The analysis explored migration-related determinants of susceptibility to violence experienced by migrant sex workers across different phases of migration. Violence in home communities and economic considerations were key drivers of migration. Unsafe transit experiences (eg undocumented border crossings) and negative interactions with authorities in destination settings (eg extortion) contributed to migrant sex workers' susceptibility to violence, while enhanced access to information on immigration policies and greater migration and sex work experience were found to enhance agency and resilience. Findings suggest the urgent need for actions that promote migrant sex workers' safety in communities of origin, transit, and destination, and programmes aimed at preventing and addressing human rights violations within the context of migration and sex work.

Citing Articles

Violence suffered by Venezuelan immigrant female sex workers: an intersectional view.

Arruda-Barbosa L, Menegatti M, Fonseca R, Oliveira M Rev Esc Enferm USP. 2024; 58:e20230282.

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Molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 among adult female sex workers at the Guatemala-Mexico border.

Springfield O, Brouwer K, Avila-Rios S, Morales-Miranda S, Mehta S Glob Public Health. 2023; 18(1):2278873.

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The paradox of choice in the sexual and reproductive health and rights challenges of south-south migrant girls and women in Central America and Mexico: A scoping review of the literature.

Garbett A, de Oliveira Tavares N, Riggirozzi P, Neal S J Migr Health. 2022; 7:100143.

PMID: 36568827 PMC: 9768374. DOI: 10.1016/j.jmh.2022.100143.

Migration and Mobility: Correlates of Recent HIV Testing Among Substance Using Female Sex Workers at the Mexico-Guatemala Border.

Rocha-Jimenez T, Morales-Miranda S, Fernandez-Casanueva C, Silverman J, Zuniga M, Goldenberg S AIDS Behav. 2022; 26(5):1467-1476.

PMID: 34982320 PMC: 9001206. DOI: 10.1007/s10461-021-03501-8.

Promotion of Resilience in Migrants: A Systematic Review of Study and Psychosocial Intervention.

Ciaramella M, Monacelli N, Cocimano L J Immigr Minor Health. 2021; 24(5):1328-1344.

PMID: 34324124 PMC: 9388436. DOI: 10.1007/s10903-021-01247-y.

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