ISSUE: Situational assessment to assess the knowledge, behaviour attitude of CSWs with regard to STD/HIV/AIDS in North Chennai. PROJECT: A situational assessment study was done before the launch of intervention to assess the nature and extent of the problem current knowledge, behavior, attitude and practise of CSWs. A detailed information gathering phase was spread out for a period of 3 months was formulated. Three approaches: ethnographic, focus group discussion, indepth interview were adopted to carry out the study. The universe selected for the study in North Madras, India. Both Qualitative and quantitative information was gathered in the study. A structured interview schedule was used to collect information from 300 CSWs. RESULTS: The qualitative data was content analysed and quantitative data was analysed using suitable soft ware package. The total size of the target population estimated was 4,200, 24 brothel houses, 15 lodges. The study revealed the socio-demographic characteristics, Sexual behavior, Knowledge about STD/HIV/AIDS, condom usage behavior, health seeking behavior, sex as profession etc. LESSONS LEARNED: It is essential to intervene the T-population as the knowledge on STD/HIV/AIDS though fairly high as not resulted in behavior change-specifically on condom usage. Awareness is interlinked with misconceptions. High risk sexual patterns adopted by the clients, health seeking behavior is low.

MEETING ABSTRACTS Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*PREVENTION & CONTROL/ TRANSMISSION Female Health Education Human HIV Infections/*PREVENTION & CONTROL/TRANSMISSION India *Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice *Prostitution Sexually Transmitted Diseases/*PREVENTION & CONTROL/TRANSMISSION

www.aegis.org