Experiences of commercial sex workers in a periurban municipal area: an exploratory descriptive study in four centres in Ghana
- 1University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
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.
Design: This study used a qualitative phenomenological approach.
Settings: The study was conducted in four urban settings in Ghana: Aflao, Ho, Koforidua and Kumasi.
Participants: Female CSWs
Interventions: 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.
Outcomes: The experiences of CSWs.
Results: 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.
Conclusion: 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.
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BibTeX
@article{dartey2026experiences,
title = {{Experiences of commercial sex workers in a periurban municipal area: an exploratory descriptive study in four centres in Ghana}},
author = {Anita Fafa Dartey and Kennedy Diema Konlan and Wisdom Harry Gbesemete and Alfred Ofori Agyemang and Augustine Yaw Assah and Emmanuel Larbi Obiri and Osarfo Joseph},
journal = {BMJ Open},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1136/bmjopen-2026-119835},
url = {https://bmjopen.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/bmjopen-2026-119835},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Experiences of commercial sex workers in a periurban municipal area: an exploratory descriptive study in four centres in Ghana
AU - Anita Fafa Dartey
AU - Kennedy Diema Konlan
AU - Wisdom Harry Gbesemete
AU - Alfred Ofori Agyemang
AU - Augustine Yaw Assah
AU - Emmanuel Larbi Obiri
AU - Osarfo Joseph
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/29
JO - BMJ Open
DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2026-119835
UR - https://bmjopen.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/bmjopen-2026-119835
AB - 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. Design: This study used a qualitative phenomenological approach. Settings: The study was conducted in four urban settings in Ghana: Aflao, Ho, Koforidua and Kumasi. Participants: Female CSWs Interventions: 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. Outcomes: The experiences of CSWs. Results: 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. Conclusion: 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.
SN - 2044-6055
SN - 2044-6055
ER -