Lebanon’s sex workers: between taboo and reality

Soins Infirmiers et Développement Communautaire (SIDC) and the United Nations Population Fund in Lebanon (UNFPA) made a study about women sex workers in Lebanon.

The study showed that family problems, poverty, low level of education and low self-esteem push these women to work as prostitutes.

The study overlooked as well the dangers that the prostitutes might face while practicing this “job”, such as the HIV virus.

The associations proposed ways of preventing the virus and treating it as well as alternative job options to encourage these girls to quit theirs.

The researchers who made the study went to bars and questioned sex costumers. Apparently, the costumers have the option of using a condom or not and are in most of the time not aware that they might get a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

The prostitutes who work in bars and brothels are frequently tested to see if they carry any STD, however those who work in the streets are too poor to go and get tested.

The sex workers in Lebanon are from different nationalities and the majority are in their twenties.

They are sexually abused, beaten, raped, humiliated and sometimes they get pregnant.

The study concluded that campaigns should be launched to inform these women and protect them, and to spread awareness on a national level so that the men would know the dangers of getting an STD, which could be prevented by using condoms.

For the full LBCI report, please click on the video above