A Content Analysis of Health and Safety Communications Among Internet-Based Sex Work Advertisements: Important Information for Public Health

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorKille, Julie
dc.contributor.authorBungay, Vicky
dc.contributor.authorOliffe, John
dc.contributor.authorAtchison, Chris
dc.date.accessioned2018-08-13T16:12:36Z
dc.date.available2018-08-13T16:12:36Z
dc.date.copyright2017en_US
dc.date.issued2017
dc.description.abstractBackground: The capacity to advertise via the Internet continues to contribute to the shifting dynamics in adult commercial sex work. eHealth interventions have shown promise to promote Internet-based sex workers' health and safety internationally, yet minimal attention has been paid in Canada to developing such interventions. Understanding the information communicated in Internet-based sex work advertisements is a critical step in knowledge development to inform such interventions. Objective: The purpose of this content analysis was to increase our understanding of the health and safety information within the Internet advertisements among women, men, and transgender sex workers and to describe how this information may be utilized to inform eHealth service development for this population. Methods: A total of 75 Internet-based sex worker advertisements (45 women, 24 men, and 6 transgender persons) were purposefully selected from 226 advertisements collected as part of a larger study in Western Canada. Content analysis was employed to guide data extraction about demographic characteristics, sexual services provided, service restrictions, health practices and concerns, safety and security, and business practices. Frequencies for each variable were calculated and further classified by gender. Thematic analysis was then undertaken to situate the communications within the social and commercialized contexts of the sex industry. Results: Four communications themes were identified: (1) demographic characteristics; (2) sexual services; (3) health; and (4) safety and security. White was the most common ethnicity (46/75, 61%) of advertisements. It was found that 20-29 years of age accounted for 32 of the 51 advertisements that provided age. Escort, the only legal business title, was the most common role title used (48/75, 64%). In total, 85% (64/75) of advertisements detailed lists of sexual services provided and 41% (31/75) of advertisements noted never offering uncovered services (ie, no condom). Gender and the type of Web-based platform mattered for information communicated. It was found that 35 of the 45 women's advertisements were situated in personal websites and hosted details about nonsexual aspects of an appointment. Men and transworkers used Internet classified advertisement platforms with predetermined categories. Communications about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) occurred in only 16% (12/75) of advertisements with men accounting for 7. Women's advertisements accounted for 26 of the 37 advertisements noting safety restrictions. Zero men or transpersons restricted alcohol or drug use. In total, 75% (56/75) of advertisements offered out-call services and the average minimal hourly rate ranged from Can $140/h to Can $200/h. Conclusions: The study findings contribute to understandings about the diverse platforms used in commercial sex advertisements, and how sex workers frame information for potential clients. This information affords health care providers and policy makers insights to how they might assist with promoting the health of Internet-based sex workers and their clients.en_US
dc.description.reviewstatusRevieweden_US
dc.description.scholarlevelFacultyen_US
dc.description.sponsorshipThis paper is based on the research of Julie Ann Kille for her Master of Science degree in Nursing, 2015, at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada and the SPACES (sex, power, agency, consent, environment, safety) study. Funding for this project was provided by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (grant number MOP-11947). Vicky Bungay is partially supported by a Canada Research Chair in Gender, Equity and Community Engagement and Michael Smith Foundation for Health Scholar Award (grant number 5212).en_US
dc.identifier.citationKille, J.; Bungay, V.; Oliffe, J.; & Atchison, C. (2017). A content analysis of health and safety communications among internet-based sex work advertisements: Important information for public health. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 19(4), e111. http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/jmir.6746en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.2196/jmir.6746
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1828/9896
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherJournal of Medical Internet Researchen_US
dc.subjecteHealth
dc.subjectcommunication
dc.subjectconfidentiality
dc.subjectcross sectional studies
dc.subjectgender
dc.subjecthealth behavior
dc.subjectInternet
dc.subjectsex industry
dc.subjectsexual health
dc.subject.departmentDepartment of Sociology
dc.titleA Content Analysis of Health and Safety Communications Among Internet-Based Sex Work Advertisements: Important Information for Public Healthen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
kille_julie_jmedinternetres_2017.pdf
Size:
559.79 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download

Collections

Faculty and Staff Publications
 
University of Victoria Libraries

We acknowledge and respect the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Esquimalt) Peoples on whose territory the university stands, and the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.