Responding to Socioeconomic Impacts of Political Unrest: CBR with Ukrainian Migrant Women who Engage in Sex Work – Mar 20, 2025

Session Description

March E-Learning: Responding to Socioeconomic Impacts of Political Unrest: Community-Based Research with Ukrainian Migrant Women who Engage in Sex Work

Amplifying Knowledge from Ukrainian Migrant Women in Survival Sex Work Through Community-Based Research

The Russian invasion of Ukraine three years ago rattled the world through creating a migrant crisis of unprecedented magnitude. Canada has responded to this crisis by opening Canadian borders to over 300,000 Ukrainians, most of whom are women and children. These migrants now must make ends meet in a new host country that is vastly different from their country of origin. The CBRC team has successfully utilized community-based research as a tool to work with key community partner organizations to respond to the needs of this population in Canada. Particularly, during this E-Learning event we will highlight their work with Ukrainian migrant women who engage in sex work for survival in Canada. This intersectional, community-driven, and action-oriented research that touches on several social and sociodemographic inequities, will uncover the narratives of Ukrainian migrant women with a particular focus on 1) migration centered vulnerabilities leading to sex work 2) precarity, survival, and lived realities of sex work 3) health risks and consequences of sex work, and 4) coping, resilience, and support needs.

This study highlights how intersecting vulnerabilities foster an environment of precarity for Ukrainian migrant women and offers user-informed insight into improving accessibility of healthcare services, community resources, and federal policies to support a safe, long-term integration of this population in Canada. In addition, this study details how to work in close partnerships with key community organizations and members of the population of interest to ensure success during a community-driven project. Particularly, the findings of such a study are not only disseminated in academic journals and scientific events, but used to inform community programing, services and supports to continue to serve their populations, such as migrant women in sex work.

Presenters:

Dr. Kateryna Metersky, RN, PhD (N), Assistant Professor, Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Toronto Metropolitan University

Dr. Areej-Al-Hamad, RN, PhD (HP), PhD (N), Assistant Professor, Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Toronto Metropolitan University

Kristina Tsvygun, RN, MN(c), Research Assistant, Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Toronto Metropolitan University

Valerie Tan, RN, MN, Project Manager, Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Toronto Metropolitan University