Background In the Netherlands there has been an ongoing shift from indoor sex work settings such as licensed brothels and clubs to home-based sex work. Consequently, female sex workers (FSW) are harder to reach by regional public health services (GGD) who offer FSW free and anonymous preventive sexual health care services such as sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and hepatitis B vaccinations. The aim of this study was to gain an insight in home-based FSW and in their perceived barriers and willingness to engage in preventive sexual health care services provided by the GGD.

Methods For this qualitative study semi-structured individual in-depth interviews were conducted with 29 home-based FSW based in two Dutch regions. An interview guide was developed including themes such as STI, hepatitis B, risk perception, stigma and safety and preferred communication and reachability by the GGD.

Results The interviewed home-based FSW showed to be a diverse population regarding background characteristics and experience and organisation of their work and personal life with e.g. sex work experience varying between 3,5 months – 15 years. The women mostly started sex work because of a poor financial situation, a high sexual drive and out of curiosity. Main reasons to be involved in home-based sex work was feeling in control, feeling safe and comfortable and negative experiences with indoor sex work settings. Important facilitating factors for FSW to engage in preventive sexual health care services are having trust in the health care provider and having personal contact e.g. through Whatsapp. Considering the high information density in the interviews, further analyses are still ongoing.

Conclusion This study highlights the diversity among home-based FSW. Future outreach efforts towards home-based FSW should take the diversity of this group and identified facilitating factors into account in order to optimize reach of future preventive sexual health care services.

Disclosure No significant relationships.