Previous research on female street sex workers (FSSWs) has primarily concentrated on the stigmatisation of women's involvement in the sex industry particularly with reference to the spread of HIV/AIDS. The response of the criminal justice system to the regulation of the illegal aspects of women's engagement in street sex work has also been criticised. However, the impact of street sex work on the health and wellbeing of these women requires further research. The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions and needs of female street sex workers in relation to their own health and wellbeing. The study used a qualitative mixed methods approach that included analysis of three sets of data: visual data, secondary data and primary data. There were 10 FSSWs recruited for the primary data sample. The epistemological position underpinning this study is social constructivism and a feminist paradigm has informed the conduct of the research process and data analysis. The theoretical application of Bourdieu's framework of habitus, capital and field has provided the lens through which to explore the socially constructed experiences of FSSWs health and wellbeing. Findings from this study revealed that FSSWs experienced poor physical, mental and social health and wellbeing. They faced limited life choices and often felt discriminated against by the agencies and institutions that should have offered support. The women spoke of their personal histories especially traumatic life events in childhood consisting of sexual abuse, neglect, loss, rejection as well as intimate partner violence in adult life. The loss of their children to social services, housing difficulties and addiction to alcohol and crack cocaine were also significant in contributing to social exclusion and their multiple positions of vulnerability. This study contributes to the body of work on women's health and wellbeing. In particular, it adds to our understanding of the lived experiences of women involved in street sex work. A key public health priority should be the development of policies and systems to provide quality services to support the health, safety and wellbeing of FSSWs.

Nous avons souhaité accompagner des populations d’Afrique subsaharienne en France, sur une démarche de santé communautaire, afin d’agir sur les inégalités de santé. Ce travail permet une mesure des effets et conséquences sur le comportement de promotion de la santé sous l’angle des rapports interculturels. Cette démarche repose sur une méthodologie exploratoire constituée à la fois d’outils de recherche en psychologique, de protocoles d’intervention en santé publique et d’une problématique psycho-sociale d’interculturalité. Les évolutions de comportement en faveur d’actions de promotion de la santé sont liées de manière significative à cette démarche qui allie focus groupe et application de la théorie du comportement planifié (TCP). Une telle approche permet une réflexion sur les inégalités sociales en santé des communautés migrantes, et l’accompagnement vers les soins, en favorisant les relations entre habitants et professionnels de santé dans une démarche interculturelle. Les objectifs de l’étude étaient (i) de mieux comprendre l’intention des immigrants africains d’adopter une approche personnelle pour les problèmes de santé communautaire et (ii) d’évaluer la sensibilisation et le développement des compétences des membres de la communauté sur leur comportement de promotion de la santé. / We wanted to accompany sub-Saharan African population in France, on a community health approach, to act on health inequalities. This work allows to measure the effects and consequences of health behavior promotion from an inter-cultural relations angle. This approach is based on an exploratory methodology made up of both psychological research tools, protocols for intervention in public health with the psycho-social problematic of inter-culturality. Behavioral changes in favor of health promotion actions are significantly related to this approach, which will combine group focus and the application of planned behavior theory (PBT). Such an approach allows a reflection on the social inequalities in health of the migrant communities, and the accompaniment towards care, favouring relations between inhabitants and health professionals on an intercultural approach. The objectives of the study were (i) to better understand the intention of African migrants to adopt a personal approach to community health problems and (ii) to assess the influence of developing members’ awareness and skills of the community on their health promotion behavior.