The SHANTUSI project was an extensive action-research project that engaged with individuals in the unregulated sex industry to ascertain some understanding of levels of HIV as well as the broader notion of 'need' on the part of those involved. Field research was conducted over the course of 12 months and 145 individuals gave of their time and experiences to contribute to our understandings of the street-based sex market, migrant workers in the illicit sex market and individuals who negotiate the sale of sexual services via the internet.