Abstract

COUTO, Pablo et al. Meanings elaborated by female sex workers on sexual health: study with social representations. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2021, vol.22, n.2, pp.423-436.  Epub Aug 31, 2021. ISSN 1645-0086.  https://doi.org/10.15309/21psd220209.

The objective was to apprehend the representational meanings elaborated by sex workers on sexual health. It is a qualitative study, based on the theory of social representations in its procedural approach. The scenario was the micro-region of Guanambi-Ba, home to the Alto Sertão Produtivo Baiano. 132 female sex workers participated in this research and met inclusion criteria. The collection took place individually between the months of April 2017 to June 2018. Data collection techniques were used using the Free Word Association, which were analyzed with the aid of the IRAMUTEQ software, which enabled the Factorial Correspondence Analysis and the Similitude Analysis, as well as the In-Depth Interview, whose speeches were analyzed with the analysis of Semantic Content. Social representations about sexual health were constructed through the meanings associated by sex workers with health problems and body care, such as disease prevention. Some representations were consensual within the group of participants, when sex workers correlated with evocations such as condoms, contraceptives, exams, not getting pregnant, care, important and healthy sex, demonstrating that scientific knowledge of the disease process and the search for health and quality of life. Their mental constructions also showed that the subjective issues of sexuality comprise social representations when they associated self-esteem, satisfaction, happiness, love and quality of life with sexual health. We conclude that the social representations of sexual health, of female sex workers, make it possible to understand how they experience the rent of their bodies, in addition to preventing diseases and injuries to their bodies.

Keywords : Sex workers; sexual health; social representations; collective health nursing; social psychology.

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