(In)dignidade menstrual de profissionais do sexo: desafios e perspectivas

Abstract

Introduction: This study addresses the experiences and challenges faced by sex workers during menstruation, considering that these women are part of a scenario of extreme social vulnerability. The National Health Promotion Policy (PNPS) is guided by the principle of equity, recognizing social inequalities and promoting actions aimed at improving living conditions, especially among the most vulnerable groups, which include homeless women and sex workers. Objectives: To identify menstrual hygiene practices adopted by sex workers in vulnerable conditions and to understand the challenges faced during menstruation by these professionals. Methodology: This is a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive study, conducted through semi-structured interviews. Data collection took place from April to September 2024 in the city of Maceió. The study included six women who are or have been sex workers, who menstruate, and who are assisted by Team 2 of the street clinic. The interviews were fully transcribed and, after exhaustive reading, submitted to analysis. The organization of this information was carried out using Thematic Analysis Technique. Results and Discussion: From the analysis, two categories emerged: Knowledge, access to pads, and perceptions about menstruation: accounts of sex workers; and The challenges of menstruating and working as a sex worker. The first category revealed that knowledge about what menstruation is, about the menstrual cycle, as well as access to basic hygiene items and bodily sensations during this period, are significant aspects in the lives of sex workers. The second category highlighted how these professionals face difficulties during menstruation, especially regarding the infrastructure needed for proper menstrual hygiene; financial losses and decreased clientele during menstruation; violence and pressures to attend clients even when menstruating and strategies to continue working; in addition to emotional and physical consequences related to their work. Conclusion: Factors such as race and education may be directly related to the reality experienced by sex workers, highlighting social and health inequalities that permeate their lives. Regarding menstruation, it was observed that many associate it with health, as well as recognize its onset through bodily changes. Knowledge about the menstrual cycle ranged from popular knowledge to a more structured understanding of its functioning. It was also found that the strategies used by these professionals during menstruation include improvised practices, due to the lack of adequate sanitary infrastructure and limited access to menstrual hygiene items.