- Sex workers don’t always go the the doctor or the municipal health service (GGD) for an STI test or a vaccination
- It is important for them to have access to STI care as well
- You can offer STI care via websites where sex workers advertise
- Respond to an ad by email, SMS, WhatsApp or telephone
- Read tips about how to reach sex workers online for STI care
Why offer online STI care?
Not every sex worker goes to the municipal health service (GGD) or a doctor for an STI test or vaccination. There may be all sorts of reasons for this. For example:
- Someone does not have a regular doctor or doesn’t know that they can get tested
- They may be embarrassed or afraid to go to the doctor
- They don’t speak Dutch
Sex workers should have easy access to STI care. Because of their work, they are at more risk of getting an STI or other health issues. And they can pass an STI on to more people. And an STI not only has physical consequences for them, it also impacts their finances.
That is why it is important to reach sex workers in a different way. Via an Appendix, for examples, or websites where they offer their services.
Which websites
You can reach sex workers online on websites where they advertise sex work. Examples of ad websites:
Do you want to contact the owners of one of these websites? To place an ad, for example? Let us know. We have good contact with some websites and can help you.
Dating sites and apps
There are also dating sites where people offer sex in exchange for payment. Bullchat, for example, for men who have sex with men. People on this site usually don’t consider themselves sex workers. And that often makes it more difficult to contact them about STI care.
Make contact
You contact sex workers by responding to their ad. Respond to an ad by email, SMS, WhatsApp or telephone. It’s easier to make contact with someone who speaks the language and knows the culture. For example, this could be a sex worker, former sex worker or someone with a lot of experience of knowledge of the sector. Experts or experience experts work at some municipal health services (GGDs). Check with your municipal health department (GGD) to find out whether someone with that background works there.
It is often useful to start with an email in which you introduce yourself and state why you are contacting someone.
Messaging or apping
Does someone not have an email address? In that case, contact them by messaging or WhatsApp. It can be the first contact, but you can also use it to follow-up after the first contact by email. For example, you can send someone a message two or four times a year to remind them to get tested for STIs or to get a Hepatitis B shot.
Apping is often more useful than messaging. Nearly all sex workers use it and find it nice and easy.
Telephoning
Have you already made contact by email, messaging or WhatsApp? Then you can telephone. It’s easier to make real contact by telephone. You can also ask and answer questions. That makes it easier to determine what STI care someone needs. And you can explain why an STI test or vaccination can be a good thing.
Do you want to telephone? Mention this in the email or the Appendix you sent.
Tips for your talk your message
It is important for the person you contact to trust you and to understand why you are contacting them. Please note:
- Send your email using a professional email address. soatest@GGDAmsterdam.nl, for example
- Start your message in a personal tone. For example: Dear Sandra
- Tell the person that you work for a reliable institution. GGD Amsterdam, for example
- Keep your email short, but amicable. Use colloquial language. Don’t use jargon or difficult words
- Clarify why you’re mailing or apping someone. Tell the person that they can get a free STI test or Hepatitis B vaccination
- Tell them where and when they can get tested. Include a link, if you have one, to where they can make an appointment
- Let the sex worker know who they can contact if they have questions
- End your message with your first name. That is more personal than say, ‘The municipal health service’ (GGD)
- Remember, messages and apps must be shorter than an email. Only give information that is really necessary in a message or app.
- Get your message translated into different languages. In any event into English and Spanish
- Would you like tips about the best way to contact sex workers? Ask a sex worker. They speak the language and know the culture and can often give you good help.
The Internet field work guide contains more tips and examples about how you can contact sex workers online in connection with STI care.
You can order the guide for free by email
Privacy and security
It is important to remember when sending and receiving information online to take the privacy of the people you are contacting into account. Think about how you protect the security of the data and privacy of your contacts. Get information about this from data and privacy experts.
The Internet field work guide contains tips about dealing with contacts’ data securely. You can order the guide for free by email
Take action to promote sexual health
Would you like to know how to set up an activity for sex workers about sexual health? Our e-learning, which includes practical tips, can get you started in two hours.