AEGiS-14IAC: Legislation and vulnerability to HIV/AIDS among commercial sex workers in Kampala city.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Legislation and vulnerability to HIV/AIDS among commercial sex workers in Kampala city.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. TuOrE1202)

Sentumbwe S, Nakkazi DS, Nantege N
Centre For Peace Research, Kampala, Uganda

BACKGROUND: Sections 131-134 of the penal code of Uganda outlaws prostitution. This study assessed commercial sex worker's (CSWs) knowledge and perceptions of the current legislation and analysed how the law has fuelled sex trade and increased vulnerability to HIV/AIDS among CSWs.

METHODS:: A cross-sectional study among CSWs in Kampala city between 2000-2001. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected using a questionnaire, key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Quantitative data was analysed using epi-Info statistical computer package.

RESULTS:: A total 500 CSWs were enrolled from the major strata of CSWs in Kampala namely; slum-based 41.4%, bar-based 30.4% and street-based 28.2% CSWs. All were female sex workers. Median age was 23 years and 68.4% were literate. 63% of CSWs were aware that sex trade was illegal but were not aware of what exactly the law says. CSWs percevied the law on prostitution as unfair, biased and only victimised women 24.4%, bad and takes away their freedom to earn a living 20.2%, idle and cannot be enforced 19.8%, leads to exploitation of CSWs by clients and security personnel 11.4%, increases the spread of HIV/AIDS 11.4% and old fashioned and did not live up to today's realities 4.9%. 56.2% of CSWs believed the law fuels sex trades and increases their vulnerability to and spread of HIV/AIDS. This was mainly through violence by clients forcing them into unprotected sex 84.1%, inability to report and prosecute violent clients 74.6%, rape by clients and security personnel 69.8%, and undermining design of interventions for CSWs 22.2%. 91.7% of CSWs proposed that sex trade should be legalised.

CONCLUSIONS:: The law on prostitution in Uganda plays a big role in increasing CSWs' vulnerability to HIV/AIDS infection through violence, rape and other forms of sexual and human rights abuse. The law should be reviewed to protect sex workers from HIV/AIDS infections and human rights abuse.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Prostitution, HIV Infections, HIV Seropositivity, Legislation, Cities, Cross-Sectional Studies, Infection, Uganda, Human, Female

020707
TuOrE1202