AEGiS-14IAC: Poverty Education and AIDS: Socio-economic factors that facilitate HIV/AIDS transmission in Commercial Sex Workers of Ahmedabad,Gujarat, India.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Poverty Education and AIDS: Socio-economic factors that facilitate HIV/AIDS transmission in Commercial Sex Workers of Ahmedabad,Gujarat, India.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. D11146)

Gumane RT
Project Coordinator, Ahmedabad, India

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted with the technical support of FHI, funded by DFID. The study assessed the impact of the trends of STI's in Commercial Sex Workers of Ahmedabad. The basic aim of the STI prevelance study is to provide baseline measurement of STI's and to understand the social cultural, economic situation that contributes to STI and HIV transmisssion and paralyses the prevention . The knowledge gained is being utilised in strenghtening and developing the strategies for Intervention project and to develop IEC Material, BCC to combat AIDS.

METHOD: Sample of 314 Commercial Sex Workers were Interviewed through behavioural questionnaire. Sex workers from all groups; Street Sex Workers, Call Girls, Residentials, and Brothel based ; aged 15 to 60 were considered.

RESULTS: The Socio-economic context have psychological consequences which negatively affects the attitude and behaviour and thereby contributing to the spread of STI's and HIV in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The determinants were, (1) Poverty, 259 (82.4%) commercial sex workers have entered due to the economic constraints as at one time Ahmedabad was said to be a Manchester of India; has collapsed . (2) Family, 168 (53.5%) are having thier family (Husband and children), so to sustain the family and lack of employment, have entered into this bussiness.(3) Education, Never attended school (41%), Primary(29%), Secondary(26%).(4) Number of clientel, 41.4% are having 2 to 5 different sexual partners, 30.2% had more than 5 different partners. (5) Condom usage, 15.1% never used condom, 23% rarely, 28.8% sometime; which makes them more vulnerable.

CONCLUSION: There is an urgent need of education and also sex education that informs without offending norms and values. Empowering the sex workers economically and improvement of social status through various activites. Clientel education on condom use among sex workers and their clientel should be made as negotiation is in the hands of male partner.

Keywords: AEGIS, Prostitution, HIV Infections, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Condoms, Poverty, Teaching, Sexual Partners, HIV Seropositivity, Health Education, Condoms, Female, Sex Education, Questionnaires, India, Human, Child, Female, Male, transmission, Economics, education

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D11146