An Evaluation of Sex Workers Health Access (AESHA)

AESHA is a community-based research project that includes a quantitative cohort and qualitative/ethnographic arm. As part of the quantitative arm, AESHA operates a community-based prospective cohort that involves semi-annual questionnaires and sexual health research visits with our community-based staff. The qualitative arm is focused on documenting the lived-experiences of sex workers of all genders, and third parties who provide services for sex workers, like receptionists, venue managers, owners and security personnel.

AESHA operates out of our community-based research site as well as through weekly outreach across Metro Vancouver. On outreach, our multi-lingual team (English, Mandarin, Cantonese, French) conducts research and provides support to indoor- and outdoor-based sex workers across diverse work environments. Since the project’s inception, current and former sex workers are engaged and employed through all stages of the project including as interviewer/outreach workers, sexual health nurses, coordinators, researchers, and co-authors.

The Vancouver Sex Work Community Alliance is a partnership between the Health Initiative for Men and the Centre for Gender & Sexual Health Equity, aimed at improving sex workers’ wellbeing and access to healthcare. The alliance is currently offering a series of no-cost education programs on how to offer non-stigmatizing care to sex workers. Designed to be flexible, the 4-hour training can be booked for a single day or multi-day event. Book your training here