Zimbabwe Sex Worker Formative Research Report

This 33-page research report forms part of a series of formative research studies by Soul City Institute for Health and Development Communication and it's regional partners, which are being conducted to help develop Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) communication materials for sex workers based at selected borders between Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia. In Zimbabwe, the research and related programming is being led by Action Institute for Environment Health and Development Communication.

The research used a qualitative approach which included 3 focus group discussions held in Beitbridge and Chirundu within the sex workers' catchment area. Female sex worker groups in the 19 – 43 year-old range were interviewed. Each focus group discussion consisted of a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 12 interviewees. All interviewees were practising sex workers.

The research report recorded the following key findings as reasons for engaging in sex work:

• Poverty: Poverty was highlighted by sex workers as a key reason that pushed them into sex work. The sex workers indicated that they had no one to take care of them and their dependents hence the need to fend for themselves and sex work was the easiest job that could earn them a living.
• Other jobs not paying well: Sex workers also indicated that they had tried other jobs like being house maids but due to payments coming late they did not continue. Sex workers also stated that they left their work as maids after being pressured by peers to join their trade.
• Wanted to cross into SA: In Beitbridge, it came out that some women are engaging in sex work after their efforts to cross into South Africa failed due to lack of resources to pay for their passage, so they end up engaging in sex work to earn a living.
• Being divorced, widowed and separated: The sex workers also indicated that issues like divorce, separation, and being widowed caused them to engage in sex work.
• Abusive husbands: The sex workers also indicated that they were pushed into sex work by husbands who used to abuse them while they were married and after they left they needed to earn a living so sex work was the easy way out.
• Parental pressure: Parents also put pressure on their children by complaining that they are not bringing much money home and this forced them to start sex work which they felt was better paying than buying and selling clothes.
• Husband left for South Africa: Respondents also highlighted that they joined sex work as they had been left by their husbands who went to South Africa and never came back. This forced them to do sex work to support children.
• Unavailability of jobs: The sex workers said that they joined sex work because they cannot get jobs although they have qualifications. They said that there is corruption among those who give jobs as they give first preference to their relatives and those they know.
• Orphaned: Being orphaned and having tried to raise money in different ways and failed forced some women into sex work.
• Being the bread winner: Some sex workers are the only bread winners for the family and because they need to look after their siblings, they started sex work.
• Abuse: Abuse by stepmothers led some of the sex workers into sex work.

A number of challenges are faced by sex workers and the following are noted to be the most prevalent:

• The police: The sex workers in both Chirundu and Beitbridge are facing a major challenge of the police because sex work is not legal in Zimbabwe. The sex workers indicated that the police are arresting them all the time and they beat them up. It came out quite prominently that the police are not supportive of abuse cases against sex workers, just because they are sex workers. The sex workers also indicate that they are arrested for loitering but they really are not sure of the parameters that govern loitering. The police at times pick up the sex workers accusing them of loitering and later on demand sex (at times unprotected) as a fine.
• Being harassed or beaten by clients: The research participants also indicated that they are also being harassed by their clients. The forms of harassment range from refusing to pay for sex, being beaten, and just general harassment.
• Breaking of condoms: The issue of condoms breaking was also raised as an issue by the sex workers. It also came up that the condoms sometimes don’t just break but some clients tear them. The sex workers said that at times their clients break condoms purposely when having sex thereby putting their lives at risk. While some go to the clinic the next morning for assistance, others don't.
• Some clients don't want to use condoms: Some sex workers reported that when they started the work, they were unable to demand use of condoms and cash for services rendered, but that with experience many could ask for these things without fear. The sex workers indicated that there are some clients who refuse to use condoms.
• Forced unprotected sex: Sex workers interviewed stated that they are at times forced to have unprotected sex by some of their clients.
• Some clients demand their money back after sex: It also came out that some clients demand their money back after sex.
• Clients refuse to pay: The other challenge that the sex workers are having is that their clients sometimes refuse to pay after sex and that is when the beatings happen or the client produces a knife and threatens to kill the sex worker. They unfortunately don't report such people as sex work is not legal in Zimbabwe.
• Accommodation: Accommodation problems were also cited by sex workers as a challenge. Staying in lodges is disadvantageous to them because it is expensive and needs to be paid daily, which means that they need to work every day even if they are sick.
• Short term marriages: Sex workers also have challenges where clients engage in short marriages with them. After entering into a more trusting relationship and stopping the use of condoms, the clients move on. The sex workers said that they have tried other means of earning a living but when people take whatever they would be selling on credit they don't pay which also comes with its own challenges.

Sex workers said that both the male and female condoms are available for them although some wanted more education on how to use a female condom. The sex workers said that they sometimes do not use condoms especially when offered good amounts of cash and when they have been with a partner for a long time and have developed trust. The results of the research have shown that condom use in sex work varies.

• Experiences on condom use: Sex workers shared experiences on how they use condoms, instead of using a condom on its own they first insert a piece of soft cloth so that when the condom breaks fluids are held by the piece of cloth that they quickly remove and bath trying to prevent contraction of STIs.
• Difficulties in using a condom: The sex workers said that they didn't have any problems in using condoms, except breakages that occur at times. They said that at times their clients push the female condom aside and have unprotected sex without their consent.
• Female condom: The participants indicated that they are using the female condoms and they stated that they are not easily breakable even with rough clients. Some confirmed that they have never experienced breakages with female condoms. The sex workers said that a female condom feels natural and dispelled the myth that it makes noises thereby making sex un-enjoyable.

The report states that it was interesting to note that sex workers try their best to get tested and participate actively in HIV and AIDs prevention programmes as peer educators, behaviour change facilitators, and by participating in support groups. They suggested that the police need to change their behaviour towards sex workers because they are unknowingly legalising the abuse of sex workers. They also suggested that when designing programmes Action should work towards building dignity among sex workers so as to stop name calling and dehumanising attitudes towards them. They liked the message they saw on a poster that says ‘I am a human being too, respect me'. In terms of information, participants felt that they might need more information around STIs and they also need dialogues since they help people who cannot read.