To most effectively reduce sex workers HIV risk, they need access to non-judgemental services that consider all aspects of their lives.

Things includes sexual and reproductive healthcare, including family planning and contraception services, abortion care and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. They also need access to sexual and gender-based violence services, including access to justice.

If they are struggling financially they may need housing and food support and cash transfers. Some may be interested in vocational training or studying opportunities. They may need counselling or group support sessions or other mental health support. If are dependent on drugs they may need access to harm reduction services if available.  
 

Needs will be different, depending on things like a sex worker’s gender or age. The best way to provide services is to work with community representatives to find out what kind of support would be useful, and to train a range of sex workers as peer educators to help deliver these services.

If you are a community health worker it is important to look at the evidence. And the evidence shows that the HIV response will not succeed unless all people at risk of HIV are included. This means, regardless of your personal views, it is essential to support sex workers to access HIV prevention, testing and treatment services. And it is important to treat men who have sex with men with dignity and respect, otherwise they will shy away from these services.
 

If more sex workers can access HIV services, fewer people will get HIV. Many sex workers have partners and they may get pregnant. If they can’t access HIV services, their partners and babies also have an increased risk of HIV. The clients of sex workers also have partners and these partners may get pregnant, so they are also at risk. This clearly shows that, until everyone is able to access the HIV services they need, everyone will remain at risk.