Medical Students' Knowledge of and Attitudes towards Sex Work in New Orleans, Louisiana

Authors

• Alexis Hernandez, LSU Health Sciences Center - New Orleans
• Anjali Deendyal, LSU Health Sciences Center - New Orleans
• Tiana DiMasi, LSU Health Sciences Center - New Orleans
• Gina DeFelice, Tulane University
• Cara Coren, Tulane University
• Jaime Alleyn, LSU Health Sciences Center - New Orleans
• Cecilia Gambala, Tulane University

Abstract

Background: Sex work is defined as the exchange of sexual services for goods, money, or other services. The criminalization and stigma surrounding sex work disincentivizes sex workers from disclosing their profession to medical providers and impedes their access to comprehensive care. Medical education provides an entry point to improve this provider-patient relationship and promote better health outcomes for the sex work community. By assessing medical students’ knowledge and attitudes towards sex workers, we can better understand how to expand medical education to increase access to and quality of care for sex workers. Methods: Students at Louisiana State University (LSU) and Tulane Schools of Medicine in New Orleans were invited to participate in an online survey consisting of true-or-false and Likert scale statements regarding their knowledge of and attitudes towards sex work. Results: A total of 308 respondents completed the survey. Our findings showed that the average correct response rate for knowledge questions was 86.8%. The highest performance was seen with 98% of participants correctly identifying the definition of sex work. 76.3% of participants agreed that decriminalization of sex work would improve society’s health, and 77.5% of participants would like more knowledge about sex work included in their medical education. Discussion: These results demonstrate good foundational knowledge of and overall positive attitudes towards sex work amongst medical students in New Orleans. Currently, there is no mention of sex work or of the specific medical needs of sex workers in either the LSU or Tulane medical school curricula. Along with addressing gaps in curricula, more information is needed on the specific health care needs of sex workers. Conclusion: Addressing these shortcomings would better prepare future physicians to provide appropriate quality of care for this marginalized population.

DOI

10.59020/43241

Recommended Citation

Hernandez, Alexis; Deendyal, Anjali; DiMasi, Tiana; DeFelice, Gina; Coren, Cara; Alleyn, Jaime; and Gambala, Cecilia (2022) "Medical Students' Knowledge of and Attitudes towards Sex Work in New Orleans, Louisiana," Journal of the Louisiana Public Health Association: Vol. 2: No. 2, Article 9.
DOI: 10.59020/43241
Available at: https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/jlpha/vol2/iss2/9