Invisible or ignored? Prioritising young women who sell sex in the HIV response in Kenya

This doctoral thesis by Parinita Bhattacharjee examines the risks and vulnerabilities of young women who sell sex in Kenya and highlights the urgent need for their inclusion in HIV prevention programmes. Globally, key populations, particularly female sex workers, experience a disproportionate burden of HIV. While HIV programmes have achieved notable success in scaling up interventions for female sex workers through strategies such as peer education and micro-planning, young women who sell sex remain largely invisible within the HIV response.

Young women who sell sex face heightened risks of HIV acquisition due to multiple factors, including higher client volumes, economic dependence on sex work, and frequent mobility across locations. In addition, they also experience structural vulnerabilities such as violence, stigma, and discrimination. Despite these risks and vulnerabilities, young women who sell sex consistently report lower access to and utilisation of HIV prevention and treatment services compared to older FSWs, underscoring a significant gap in current programming.

The thesis argues that tailored interventions for young women who sell sex are both feasible and effective. It calls for location-specific research and the scale-up of comprehensive, peer-led, and participatory programmes to address their unique needs and ensure meaningful inclusion in HIV responses.