{
  "abstract": "Objective: This study explored the challenges commercial sex workers (CSWs) face and their coping mechanisms in four urban settings in the middle and southern belts of Ghana.\n\nDesign: This study used a qualitative phenomenological approach.\n\nSettings: The study was conducted in four urban settings in Ghana: Aflao, Ho, Koforidua and Kumasi.\n\nParticipants: Female CSWs\n\nInterventions: Using purposive and snowball sampling, 15 CSWs were recruited for in-depth interviews after saturation was reached. The thematic data analysis method was employed to identify three themes and 10 subthemes. The main themes included (1) challenges in doing commercial sex work, (2) difficulties dealing with family and friends and (3) coping mechanisms adopted to deal with challenges.\n\nOutcomes: The experiences of CSWs.\n\nResults: CSWs reported that the work is generally very challenging and requires them to adapt several strategies to mitigate it. The challenges most encountered included the inability or unwillingness of customers to agree to use condoms. CSWs not only face difficulties with the work they do but they also have issues with their families and friends who may not accept them and constantly criticise or judge them. It is well established that commercial sex work comes with lots of challenges. Given that CSW is illegal in the country and culturally unacceptable. Amid numerous health and security challenges, this theme seeks to explore the factors that keep these workers in the profession. These coping mechanisms included regular health checks and self-medication, leveraging new relationships and friendship circles.\n\nConclusion: This multifaceted approach should include stigma-reduction campaigns, promotion of condom use, harm-reduction initiatives, mental health support and education and vocational training, all while fostering partnerships among stakeholders and involving CSWs.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Anita Fafa Dartey"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Kennedy Diema Konlan",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1994-3792"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Wisdom Harry Gbesemete"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Alfred Ofori Agyemang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Augustine Yaw Assah"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Emmanuel Larbi Obiri"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Osarfo Joseph"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7yyxpn64x68qy.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1136/bmjopen-2026-119835",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13723809/",
  "id": "7yyxpn64x68qy",
  "issns": [
    "2044-6055",
    "2044-6055"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://bmjopen.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/bmjopen-2026-119835",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "1506"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "1735"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Original Research"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Sociology"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": "PMC13723809",
  "pmid": "42957301",
  "published": "2026-10-29",
  "publisher": "BMJ",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7yyxpn64x68qy.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:44Z",
      "native_id": "10.1136/bmjopen-2026-119835",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://bmjopen.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/bmjopen-2026-119835"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-04T12:22:22Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13723809",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2026-119835"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "journal-openalex:F27",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Experiences of commercial sex workers in a periurban municipal area: an exploratory descriptive study in four centres in Ghana",
  "title_text": "Experiences of commercial sex workers in a periurban municipal area: an exploratory descriptive study in four centres in Ghana",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-05T12:20:33Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7yyxpn64x68qy",
  "venue": "BMJ Open",
  "versions": []
}