Triple jeopardy: adolescent experiences of sex work and migration in Zimbabwe.
Adolescence, migration and sex work are independent risk factors for HIV and other poor health outcomes. They are usually targeted separately with little consideration on how their intersection can enhance vulnerability. We interviewed ten women in Zimbabwe who experienced sex work and migration during adolescence, exploring implications for their health and for services to meet their needs. For most, mobility was routine throughout childhood due to family instability and political upheaval. The determinants of mobility, e.g. inability to pay school fees or desire for independence from difficult circumstances, also catalysed entry into sex work, which then led to further migration to maximise income. Respondents described their adolescence as a time of both vulnerability and opportunity, during which they developed survival skills. While these women did not fit neatly into separate risk profiles of "sex worker" "migrant" or "adolescent", the overlap of these experiences shaped their health and access to services. To address the needs of marginalised populations we must understand the intersection of multiple risks, avoiding simplified assumptions about each category.
['Busza|Joanna|J|', 'Mtetwa|Sibongile|S|', 'Chirawu|Petronella|P|', 'Cowan|Frances|F|']
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological D000293:Adolescent D000294:Adolescent Behavior D000328:Adult D005260:Female D015658:HIV Infections D006801:Humans D007407:Interviews as Topic D010287:Parent-Child Relations D055500:Resilience, Psychological D012307:Risk Factors D012574:Schools D011477:Sex Work D014171:Transients and Migrants D035862:Vulnerable Populations D055815:Young Adult D015030:Zimbabwe
Adolescents Sex work Migration Zimbabwe Sexual health