Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 21, Issue 6, 2019, Pages 1290-1299

Harms of Workplace Inspections for Im/Migrant Sex Workers in In-Call Establishments: Enhanced Barriers to Health Access in a Canadian Setting (Article)

McBride B. , Shannon K. , Duff P. , Mo M. , Braschel M. , Goldenberg S.M.*
  • a Centre for Gender & Sexual Health Equity, 1190 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2K5, Canada, Interdisciplinary Studies Graduate Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
  • b Centre for Gender & Sexual Health Equity, 1190 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2K5, Canada, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
  • c Centre for Gender & Sexual Health Equity, 1190 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2K5, Canada
  • d Centre for Gender & Sexual Health Equity, 1190 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2K5, Canada
  • e Centre for Gender & Sexual Health Equity, 1190 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2K5, Canada
  • f Centre for Gender & Sexual Health Equity, 1190 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2K5, Canada, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada

Abstract

Given shifting sex work criminalization and enforcement in Canada, this study examined worrying about workplace inspections by authorities amongst indoor sex workers in Vancouver (2014–2017). Data were drawn from a community-based prospective cohort of sex workers (AESHA). Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression were used to investigate factors associated with worry about inspections. 23.9% of participants experienced workplace inspections; 51.6% worried about inspections. In multivariable analyses, worrying about inspections was associated with recent im/migration [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 3.13; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.77–5.53], police harassment (AOR 3.49; 95% CI 1.92–6.34), and workplace violence (AOR 1.66, 95% CI 1.09–2.51). In a multivariable confounder model, worry was independently associated with barriers to health access (AOR 1.45, 95% CI 1.06–1.98). Im/migrant indoor workers are disproportionately impacted by concerns about workplace inspections, which was independently linked to enhanced barriers to health access. Current criminalization measures may exacerbate health inequities among im/migrant sex workers. © 2019, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Author Keywords

Sex work Migrant sex workers Criminalization Indoor sex work social inequities

Index Keywords

male Canada harassment female prospective study police cohort analysis sex worker Article workplace violence human adult migrant human experiment
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85060178196&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-019-00859-9&partnerID=40&md5=1d693c907b6a36f1738f2610ac28a5fa
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-019-00859-9
ISSN: 15571912
Original Language: English