Sex workers in Malawi

Sex workers mingle with men at a bar in Lilongwe Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

Sex workers mingle with men at a bar in Lilongwe Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

Zione Abooh Alie, 28. She cares for her nine year-old son and her dead sister's nine-month baby. "When you go to the bars, you go among thieves and robbers. They beat you." Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

Rose Machamba, 37. She has four children of her own, aged 5 to 15, and cares for two orphans. "My husband used to beat me. If I had stayed in that marriage I would have died." Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

Beatrice Kafatiya, 21. She has two children, aged four and three. "I got tested for HIV in January. I started on Aids drugs in February." Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

Edina Ambulosi, 45. She has two sons of 21 and 18 (one of whom is mentally disabled) and a girl of 16. "I was taken by satanic people. They wanted to kill me. I started to run and fell into a deep well. I had water up to my neck. The guys were looking but they didn't find me." Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

Ellen Machemba, 29. She has one son, aged 13. Her husband left and she had no way to earn money. "Life is really very, very difficult for most of the women." Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

Victoria George, 27. She has two children, aged seven years and five months. "When my husband left, I started going to the bars because of money problems. There was nothing else I could do." Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

Night-time at the bars in Lilongwe Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

Night-time at the bars in Lilongwe Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

Night-time at the bars in Lilongwe Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

Night-time at the bars in Lilongwe Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian