Table 3 Illustrative quotations per theme
Theme | Participant characteristics | Quotation | |
|---|---|---|---|
Shame and stigma | |||
Identification sex worker | Participant 16 49 years old | “At least I wasn't on it all day, not at all. Far, far from even. So it's not something you need to pay your bills. And with prostitution you have a completely different view of- Prostitution is just something completely different. Are you, there you are just looking for customers who pay continuously. So and that's not how I saw it. It was actually more my pleasure - And that's why I don't see it as sex work." | |
Identification homosexual | Participant 18 48 years old | “I am bisexual, but uh, I could never live with a man. Is purely sexual, yes.” | |
Shame and stigma | |||
Shame and (self-)stigma sex work | Not experiencing shame and (self-)stigma | Participant 15 40 years old | “Never, no. I am not ashamed for things I do. And I- Not ashamed, not even what you or other thinks about me because I am a prostitute. I am because I have to be. That's my story, happen like this, was to be like this. I am like this. Shoot me if you don't like it.” |
Experiencing shame and (self-)stigma | Participant 12 37 years old | “Normally it's a bit embarrassing, in that sense. A little though. That's um, still learning to cope better. 'Cause, yes it's me. So you have to yes, otherwise you will get depression.” | |
Shame and (self-)stigma MSM | Participant 18 48 years old | “That’s what I don’t know. Is this an addiction? Is this an illness? Is this a- are these the genes of my parents?” | |
Experienced stigmatization | MSM | Participant 8 35 years old | “Here’s the situation. I’m gay. And I remember, my mother don’t talk to me for three months. Three months. She don’t cook for me. She don’t clean eh, eh, clean my clothes. Anything.” |
Sex work | Participant 19 35 years old | “Because as sex worker you are like nothing in the face of other people.” | |
Sexual healthcare services (SHS) | |||
Attitude SHS | Participant 7 39 years old | “Always very relaxed and very helpful and when I have questions, it goes really smoothly. I do have a familiar feeling, though. I think if there had to be something, I could ask or say anything or something. Absolutely, I don't have to hide anything." | |
Awareness available SHS | Participant 16 49 years old | “I don't know if there are any costs involved. Now you're saying that it's free ehm, also that eh, that's very ehm-… I think it, I don't know exactly what that test entails. Do you need to draw blood or uh, me, what does that mean?” | |
Need for sexual health information | Participant 6 55 years old | “You see, you don't like to talk about, what is gonorrhoea? What is syphilis? Yes, maybe you could have a little more info on that. Maybe it's on the website? I'm not sure.” | |
Disclosure sex work | Participant 7 39 years old | “You have to tick that box on the list but I have never done that. No I have never. Because I thought, otherwise they might ask questions or this or that. But I would do that now, after this conversation I think. I think so. Actually yes.” | |
STI and STI testing | |||
Attitude STI test | Participant 3 44 years old | “It’s normal, so not a problem. It's for your own health, right?” | |
Perceived (social) norm STI test | Participant 5 46 years old | “I think they're thinking too lightly about it, about the necessity of it. Well, I hardly discuss it, this is just the impression I have.” | |
Perceived susceptibility STI | Participant 7 39 years old | “There is always a risk of course, but I don't think it's that big because I'm always very careful. Okay, sucking may be done without a condom, but the fucking is always with. Well, with one exception.” | |
Perceived severity STI | Participant 20 24 years old | “Well, this might sound stupid, but so to say, most of them can be treated with a shot or with antibiotics, so I don't lose any sleep over that. But if it really were HIV…that’s my biggest fear I guess” | |
Increasing SHS accessibility and utilisation by MSW-MSM | |||
Suggestions to increase accessibility for MSW-MSM | Promotion of SHS and internet fieldwork on online platforms commonly used by MSW-MSM | Participant 14 18 years old | “I'm actually just thinking through Grindr or through Bullchat or something. Just through the apps, because otherwise you don't really come into contact with them. … I do think that you should simply address via an account, guys, eh, these are the options, we can offer you this, eh, think about it.” |
Provision of STI home-sampling kits | Participant 16 49 years old | “I think for a lot of people it would be easier if they could do some kind of home test. I think that will convince a lot of people… I think if someone is in a familiar environment, it's easier.” | |
Communication towards MSW-MSM | Participant 18 48 years old | "No, I just think that the main point should be that it’s anonymous, that a lot of men then will give in." | |