Improving the accessibility of SARC services for sex workers
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Identifying barriers and facilitators in the accessibility of Sexual Assault Referral Centre services for sex workers
IRAS ID
291246
Contact name
Rabiya Majeed-Ariss
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT)
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 1 days
Research summary
Sex work is the exchange of sexual services for resources, like money or goods (Overs, 2002). Sex work is linked with an increased vulnerability of physical violence which may occur in the form of being beaten and psychological abuse, such as isolation from friends or family, or being belittled and humiliated (Golding, 1999; Campbell, 2002). Recent research by Manning et al (2020) reiterated instances of harm experienced by sex workers, including prolonged periods of abuse.
Saint Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) was the first SARC to be established in the UK (Lovett, Regan & Kelly, 2004). Saint Mary's SARC offers a range of support services to survivors of sexual assault, including forensic medical examinations and counselling (Lovett et al., 2004). However, despite known vulnerability to sexual violence amongst sex workers, the numbers of sex workers that attend SARCs are low. In 2017/2019, 2000 adults received forensic medical examinations at Saint Mary's SARC. Of these adults, 20 were sex workers (Manning, Majeed-Ariss & White, 2020). Not accessing appropriate care raises a number of heightened health risks including untreated injuries and sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancies and further developing mental health difficulties (Campbell, 2005).
The aim of this study is to understand barriers preventing sex workers from attending SARCs, and form a list of recommendations to SARCs on how to increase attendance by sex workers, a vulnerable and underserved group. This will be done through interviewing sex workers and carrying out focus groups with professionals supporting sex workers, to produce suggestions for interventions which would make SARCs more accessible. The sample will consist of adults (aged over 18) that participate in sex work, recruited from 3rd sector organisations, and professionals supporting sex workers. Participants will undergo approximately 30-60 minute interviews and 60-90 minute focus groups. Interviews/focus groups will be either face-to-face or online.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2
REC reference
21/NS/0130
Date of REC Opinion
11 Nov 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion