- Female sex workers in South Africa have more than double the HIV infection rate of adult women in general.
- Transgender sex workers have an even higher chance of getting HIV — compared to non-transgender sex workers their risk of contracting the virus is 20X higher.
- Health workers’ negative attitudes towards sex workers and the criminalisation of the profession are big reasons for high infection rates — because it makes it hard for workers to visit clinics or to report violent clients.
- This is the third video in our key population series. Key populations are groups of people who have a higher chance of getting HIV, often because of the way in which they’re treated by health workers and legislators. Watch the first and second videos.
- Read the full script here
Mia Malan is the founder and editor-in-chief of Bhekisisa. She has worked in newsrooms in Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington, DC, winning more than 30 awards for her radio, print and television work.
