There are also worries that health research topics problematize health through a narrow lens of behavioral practices that fail to address the full range and complexity of health issues faced by sex workers and social and structural inequities such as racism, classism, and sexism (Hunt, 2013) and multiple and intersecting forms of stigma that can affect health (Benoit et al., 2016). [...] Because of the locations of this small number of funded researchers represented in these grants, the majority of funding (67%) was held in two of Canada’s ten provinces and there were no funds held in any of the three territories, although co-applicants from unfunded provinces and territories were included on the grants. [...] Despite the health and human rights of sex workers being acknowledged as a global public health priority, there is, to our knowledge, no empirical evidence regarding how funds provided by Canada’s primary publicly funded health research granting agency are operationalized to achieve the aims of enhancing health and health care in the specific context of sex work. [...] Conclusions In order to set a meaningful and inclusive public health research agenda that can better advance health and health care equity among people engaged in sex work, it is important to understand the current state of health research including how health is problematized, methods used, and who is CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH 7 included and excluded as the focus of investigation. [...] Health research funding bodies, such as CIHR, need to specifically engage with sex work communities and the growing cadre of researchers to establish an evidence informed research agenda to foster the health, safety, and well-being of sex workers locally and across the globe.
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- Published in
- Canada
