| Class I - “Self-care as a means of achieving well-being and quality of life” |
For self-care, I think it’s the same as taking care of your own body, your health and your well-being (P. 01).
As I see my needs, I find a way to take care of myself, to seek a healthier life (P. 04).
It’s not waiting for help or asking anyone for help, that is, it’s you on your own, so we have to observe our body, our mind always, see what bring us well-being and quality of life (P. 11).
So, taking care of myself in prostitution has to do with earning money to meet my needs [...] so, we have better quality of life and well-being (P. 22).
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| Class II - “If before I needed money to do self-care, who will say now with the pandemic” |
It has been difficult, there has been a reduction in clients and money, so it is difficult to eat well, buy alcohol, a mask. We use them, but they are donations of all these products. I wear a mask, I wash my hands, but that way, when there is alcohol available, I use it (P. 01).
[...] you have to feel good about yourself, you have to be excited, you have to have conditions and we need the money. This is a conflict, because at times we don’t have the right idea of how to take care of ourselves, because we are worried about making money and ending up meeting with the few clients (P. 10).
Normally I do it as care in terms of health, but it is difficult now, income has dropped, many clients have disappeared; there are only a few. But I try to eat, not get hungry and be alert to any sign to seek the health service (P. 13).
I try to take care of myself, wear a mask, use gel alcohol, but I need money, many people like me did not receive help from the government (P. 18).
I can take care of myself when I’m well, happy, excited, but there’s no money to eat, to buy things, hygiene material, alcohol [...] (P. 24).
We don’t have government assistance, we don’t have the regulation of our profession, we are almost without clients, lacking money to get the basic to live (P. 28).
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| Class III - “It is difficult to go through the pandemic, but I try to prevent myself and face the difficulties” |
Going through this pandemic has been difficult, but I’m glad I count on the support of some friends, neighbors and the organized movement of sex workers. Wow, it has given me a lot of support, getting materials and food (P. 02).
So, I try to take care of myself when I leave the house, I have one or another client. But I take care of myself, I take a shower when I arrive, I take off my clothes right away, it’s true that I don’t kiss a client on the mouth, not even before or during a pandemic (P. 09).
Wow I feel like my life has stopped and I can do anything but pray and trust God that this will pass. My mother lives here with me, we always do vigil and pray the rosary (P. 14).
I try to organize myself, sleep during the day, because at night I stay awake. Now, with the pandemic, I’m video calling with some clients, the old ones. I avoid leaving the house and keeping an eye on symptoms. If I go out, I wear a mask (P. 17).
Things are difficult, little money coming in and I find myself desperate at times. There are days at night that I take a few drops of the medicine my mother takes for depression, to try to get some sleep and forget about this pandemic (P. 21).
If I go out, when I arrive I try to take a shower right away, because of the coronavirus. I saw this on television. Also, I wear a mask to leave the house (P. 26).
I would like to do more physical activity, some exercise, but I don’t have the mood. I didn’t stop making a living in the pandemic, but there less clients. I try to sleep more, take care of myself, wear a mask, use gel alcohol, but I need money. (P. 29)
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| Class IV - “Taking care of myself, I take care of my family and my colleagues!” |
I got COVID, when I saw the first symptoms I went to the health center, took the test and it was positive. I stayed in an isolated house, but look, I was worried about where I would get money from. Then some colleagues, they gave me food, I ate, I took the medicine they gave me (P. 03).
Sometimes we who are p[...] we don’t even think about taking care of ourselves, we are more concerned with the child, with the family, in earning money for what they need. Therefore, our self-care is the relief and happiness of seeing who we love well and ensuring their happiness (P. 12).
My self-care is being attentive to what my son and father need and earning money for them. Now in the pandemic, if I have too much, I help a colleague who has no client. Of course, then what I need, but first them, because then I’m fine, I’m willing and I think about taking care of myself and having a healthier life (P. 21).
We do not have government assistance [...]. Then, we have to get by, with one helping the other. One guiding the other with the information that we are getting. One lending money, giving food, a mask, hygiene products to those in need (P. 30).
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Source: Authors.