Investigating The Role of Social Media in Sex Work in Urban Blantyre,Malawi
| dc.contributor.author | Sakala, Doreen | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2023-01-03T13:25:32Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2023-01-03T13:25:32Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2022-09-09 | |
| dc.description.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 Page 11 of 33 SWEET Protocol _V21.0_10 August20 June 2022 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. | en_US |
| dc.description.sponsorship | Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine - 5,107.52 Pounds | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://rscarchive.kuhes.ac.mw/handle/20.500.12988/1104 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.relation.ispartofseries | P.07/22/3686; | |
| dc.subject | Investigating The Role of Social Media in Sex Work in Urban Blantyre, | en_US |
| dc.title | Investigating The Role of Social Media in Sex Work in Urban Blantyre,Malawi | en_US |
| dc.type | Plan or blueprint | en_US |