14th International AIDS Conference Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. D11153)

Mridha DR, Hossen DR
Bangladesh Medical Association, Dhaka, Bangladesh

BACKGROUND: Hotel based sex trade is increasing gradually in Bangladesh. Currrent data show that >300 hotels with >15000 female sex workers are involved in this trade. Bangladesh Women's Health Coalition started a small scale STI/AIDS intervention in 10 hotels. The intervention components include BCC, condom and lubricant promotion, syndromic management of STI and other RH care. The activities are carried out both in the hotel and in the base clinic of the organization. This study was carried out to see the improvement in socio-economic status, knowledge and perception of STI/AIDS, health seeking behavior, FP method use, condom use and occupational behavior of the female sex workers 9 months after the intervention.

METHODS: This cross sectional study was carried out among the female sex workers of 5 randomly selected hotels. Data were taken with the help of a pretested questionnaire.

RESULTS: Fifty three percent of the respondents belong to 15-19 years of age category and 56% are unmarried. Mean income was US$174. All of them heard about AIDS but 30% does not know what it is. 86% knows that it spreads through unprotected sex but 23% believes sex with spouse does not spread HIV. 93% believe that condom use can prevent the spread. 67% told that they will behave friendly with an AIDS patient. They work 14.9 hours a day and take 32 clients per week. 33% thinks sex is enjoyable and most of them prefer vaginal route whereas 87% thinks anus is the most dangerous route. The condom use rates were 87% with regular and paying clients, 58% with non regular and paying clients and 43% with non regular and non paying clients. The convince refusal ratio was 0.5 among the respondents.

CONCLUSIONS: Low convince refusal ratio suggests that the respondents have very poor condom negotiating skill. This should be addressed more seriously. Any such intervention should BCC, STI/AIDS and RH care and condom and lubricant promotion. The program should be replicated in other hotels.

020707
D11153

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