Objective:

to identify practices promoting health self-care in women exercising prostitution based on factors that influence their physical, social and mental welfare.

Methodology:

qualitative research, carried out through the application of a semi structured interview consisting in open questions to ten elderly women who practiced prostitution in the city of Bogota D.C. in the year 2017. The information was collected, analyzed and classified manually in four categories: personal details, general health, perception from health services, and health programs.

Results:

the study participants were between 18 and 64 years old. Their social networks were scarce and they all were responsible for the economy in their homes. The lack of jobs opportunities is the most importat factor to exercise prostitution. They expressed not being aware of the importance to have medical check-ups regularly and were inclined to associate their health problems with the non-use of condoms, focusing their physical, social and mental well-being clearly on areas that include their sexuality and reproductive system.

Conclusions:

from the information obtained, it is concluded that self-care practices of women exercising the practice of prostitution are focused on the care of the sexual and reproductive system leaving aside promoting and health self-care actions which negatively affect their health condition, increasing the risks to suffer from chronic non-transmissible diseases.

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