Jocelyn Elders, the former controversial U.S. Surgeon General who was coined ‘The Condom Queen’ says “We talk about spreading disease and things of that sort, but when we check, the facts are that there is no difference in the disease rates among the sex workers and the rest of the population.  But you would expect that because sex is their business and they are very well informed about keeping themselves healthy through safe sex.”  -from Prostitution: On Whores, Hustlers, and Johns

Safer sex and how it is practiced may ultimately depend on the type of sex work one is involved in. Different types of sex work may pose different sexual risk.  For example, one may be more concerned about sanitizing equipment than wearing a condom, if there is no sexual intercourse involved.  Some clients may offer more money to engage in sex without a condom.  However, some sex workers have come up with safe sex strategies to still protect themselves without the client knowing, and some others decline clients refusing to practice safe sex.

Having contact with sex worker support organizations and/or health clinics, having peer support, and the length of time working in the industry are just a few factors that may influence a sex worker to practice safe sex.

This question was answered by Kevicha Echols, one of the founders of Sex Work Awareness.