The women in our study reported avoiding formal information sources, such as government and law enforcement agencies, due to the stigma attached to their profession and fear of harassment or arrest. One major daily concern for FSWs was personal safety and security (e.g., protection from local pseudo-political and religious leaders and law enforcement). They relied heavily on informal sources, including other sex workers, friends, and family. Unsurprisingly, this dependence on informal networks, often made up of individuals with limited education, vulnerable socioeconomic status, little or no internet access, and facing the same stigma, led to significant unmet information needs in their everyday lives.

Our findings on HIV/AIDS and STI awareness, as well as the ability to negotiate condom use with clients, further highlight the socioeconomic vulnerability of female sex workers (FSWs). Although all FSWs were aware of the risks associated with unprotected sex, the majority of them reported limited ability to enforce or negotiate safer sexual practices with clients. Almost all participants attended HIV/AIDS and STI informational programs offered by local NGOs, which were effective in raising awareness. However, the results clearly showed that “information” alone was not enough to empower these communities to negotiate safe sexual practices. Despite understanding the risks, FSWs often could not act on the information provided.

We recommend that agencies working with FSWs adopt comprehensive approaches, such as creating alternative income opportunities and collaborating with local law enforcement to protect this vulnerable community from harassment. Such measures, combined with informational programs, are necessary to truly empower FSWs to protect their health and safety and to reduce HIV/AIDS and STI prevalence. Unless local laws and regulations protect them, FSWs are unlikely to be fully empowered or able to enforce safer sexual practices on their own. These findings are significant for LIS researchers examining the role of information across contexts, especially when local and cultural factors limit its empowering potential.

We hope our study encourages further interdisciplinary research into the vulnerability of marginalized populations through the lens of information behavior. These insights should also benefit researchers in economics, gender studies, public health, psychology, and related fields who are studying barriers to reducing HIV/AIDS and STI diseases among diverse populations, as well as the role of informational programs in empowering marginalized groups.

The full text of the original study can be found here.