6. Conclusion
The participants in this study were mobilized in one area / location, i. e. the City of Skopje. For this reason, caution is advised when it comes to generalizations regarding sex workers’ lifestyle in other areas, i. e. the entire territory of the Republic of Macedonia, as sexual behavior is different in different areas, as well as the problems that sex workers are faced with.
The research conducted in Skopje on a group of sex workers and the analytical data processing of the obtained information reached the conclusion that the sex workers are generally confronted with social exclusion.
Sex workers have a more specific lifestyle compared to other people, which largely contributes to the increase in stigma and discrimination of this marginalized group of people. The lifestyle of sex workers can be characterized by the limited access to healthcare services, insecure living and working conditions, exposure to violence by clients, discrimination and stigma by society.
Sex workers generally work in an insecure environment, exposed to violence and manipulation by their clients, which stems from the inadequate regulation of sex work in the Republic of Macedonia. This also contributes to sex workers’ withdrawal to publically talk about their profession, or share it with their partners and / or family members.
Sex workers do not have a sufficient and adequate access to and trust in the state healthcare institutions and choose to refuse to be their beneficiaries. They most commonly use the services offered by NGOs and other service providers. In order to tear down the wall between the services in state healthcare institutions and the end users, in this case sex workers, it is necessary to sensitize healthcare workers to be able to work with this marginalized group and establish cooperation with the civil sector.
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