Associations between sex work laws and sex workers' health: A systematic review and meta-analysis of quantitative and qualitative studies.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sex workers are at disproportionate risk of violence and sexual and emotional ill health, harms that have been linked to the criminalisation of sex work. We synthesised evidence on the extent to which sex work laws and policing practices affect sex workers' safety, health, and access to services, and the pathways through which these effects occur.

Methods and findings

We searched bibliographic databases between 1 January 1990 and 9 May 2018 for qualitative and quantitative research involving sex workers of all genders and terms relating to legislation, police, and health. We operationalised categories of lawful and unlawful police repression of sex workers or their clients, including criminal and administrative penalties. We included quantitative studies that meas

SUBMITTER: Platt L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6289426 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature