Investigating The Role of Social Media in Sex Work in Urban Blantyre,Malawi
Abstract
Executive Summary
Type of research study
This is 1 year qualitative study among Female Sex Workers (FSW) in urban Blantyre,
Malawi. The study will be managed by Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research
Programme (MLW) and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM).
The Problem
Globally, female sex workers (FSWs) have the highest HIV prevalence with potential to drive
HIV transmission due to a myriad of individual, societal and national level challenges. FSWs
face and negotiate various risks due to the nature of their work including abuse, inconsistent
condom use, alcoholism, legal constraints, and male-female power dynamics. Social capital
has been found to mitigate some of these risks. There is little literature regarding social media
effect in the context of sex work in Africa. I aim to understand how social media as a form of
social capital is being used in the context of sex work engagements and transitions, to
contribute to identifying social media-based health interventions.
Objectives
Broad Objective
To investigate the role of social media in sex work engagements and transitions in order to
identify potential mitigating interventions.To understand how social media is used in the
Malawian context and as a form of social capital in sex work engagements and transitions, to
contribute to identifying social media-based health interventions.
Specific Objectives:
• To explore how social media impacts contemporary lives of FSW in sub-Saharan Africa and
Malawi
• To identifyunderstand the nature and pathways through which social media as a form of
social capital promotes engagement in sex work
• To investigate the potential of social media and digital approaches in promoting safe health
behaviors and transitioning of sex work in Malawi
Methodology
The study will use an ethnographic approach (traditional and digital ethnography) which
involves a researcher immersing him/herself in a particular setting or community to observe
their behaviour and interactions up close. Traditional ethnography will involve participant
observations where I will visit the participants on a daily basis in their venues to observe and
interact wit them. Observations will mainly be on social relationships, trust, reciprocity, social
norms and social support as they are expressed and experienced through in person. The
researcher will observe the social capital gained from these groups and how that informs the
FSW decisions in sex work engagements and transitions.
Digital ethnography will involve making online observations (on same components
mentioned in traditional ethnography) in social media groups the FSW is part of. During
these observations (traditional and digital ethnography), the researcher will take field notes
of interactions observed in-person and online.09-Sep-2022
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In Depth Interviews (IDI) and Key Informant interviews (KI) will be conducted with an aim to
seek in-depth explanations of some of the observations that were made for both traditional
and digital ethnography. The interviews will be conducted depending on the emerging
findings. Interviews will be conducted with study participants, bar men, gatekeepers (bar
owners, group administrators, supervisors) and other FSW not using social media.
Expected Findings and dissemination
By the end of the project, there will be complete understanding of the role of social media
and how it is being used in female sex work in Malawi and how social capital is being used
for peer support. The study will also understand and identify the HIV risks and vulnerability
that FSW face on social media and through peers. Such understanding may lead to
identification of potential (social media based) interventions for impacting engagements and
transitions in sex work. Results will be disseminated at Kamuzu University of Health
Sciences (KUHeS) Annual Research Conference,Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
(LSTM) Postgraduate Research Conference and other national and international meetings
and conferences. Publications will also be made in peer reviewed journals and a copy of the
report will also be shared with College of Medicine Research Ethics Committee (COMREC),KUHES.
Description
Keywords
Investigating The Role of Social Media in Sex Work in Urban Blantyre,