AEGiS-14IAC: To assess needs of female commercial sex workers/dancing girls for HIV/AIDS in Karachi, Pakistan.

14th International AIDS Conference


Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

DonateNow
Print this article

To assess needs of female commercial sex workers/dancing girls for HIV/AIDS in Karachi, Pakistan.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. D11154)

Mirza MA, Shah SA, Shah SA, Shah SA, Mujeeb SA
MHEWA, Karachi, Pakistan

ISSUES: Commercial Sex work is illegal in Pakistan but sex workers continue their business in all major cities f the county. Due to Commercial sex work being disorganized and hidden, the interventions to reduce vulnerability of this high-risk population are challenging.

DESCRIPTION: Focus Group Discussion and in-depth interviews were conducted among female commercial sex workers/dancing girls at Napier Road, Karachi in collaboration with NGOs working with this group since last five years. The purpose of study was to know needs of female sex workers in Karachi to reduce their vulnerability for HIV/AIDS. Following needs wee identified: - CSWs and their clients need health education, particularly regarding sexual transmitted disease and HIV/AIDS. - Most acceptable source of information identified by CSWs was through "Ustads" (who teaches them singing and dancing) and their peers. - Since the business is not legally permitted, therefore they are often subjected to sexual abuse and harassment from police and other local mafia. - CSWs insisted use of male condom always depends upon clients; therefore there is serious need to increase awareness of condom use among clients.

CONCLUSIONS: - Female Commercial Sex workers could be approached through NGOs working with this sub-population in spite of the business being illegal. - There is need of health education of commercial sex workers and their clients about HIV/AIDS. - Most acceptable source of information for commercial sex workers is through "Ustads" (one who teaches them singing and dancing) and their peers.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Prostitution, Condoms, Health Services Needs and Demand, HIV Seropositivity, Safe Sex, Health Education, Dancing, Condoms, Female, HIV Seroprevalence, Pakistan, Human, Female, MaleKWDaegis,hiv,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,hivinfections,prostitution,condoms,healthservicesneedsanddemand,hivseropositivity,safesex,healtheducation,dancing,condoms,female,hivseroprevalence,pakistan,human,female,male

020707
D11154

Copyright © 2002 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.