There are four main categories of health risks faced by workers in the commercial sex industry. These relate to the acquisition of sexually transmitted infections (STI), harm through violence from clients or pimps, factors associated with the use of drugs and mental health.Bacterial (syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhoea and Mycoplasma genitalium) and viral STI [human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis A, B and C, herpes simplex virus (HSV) and human papilloma virus] are acquired mainly through unprotected vaginal, anal or oral intercourse.It has generally been assumed that commercial sex work facilitates the spread of STI in a population, but research suggests that this may only apply in certain settings such as the developing world and street sex work, where condom use may not be widely practised. It is important to increase awareness of condom use through peer education of sex workers or development and distribution of appropriate IEC materials on HIV/AIDS and other STI.