scholarly journals Community-Based Strategies as Transformative Approaches for Health Promotion and Empowerment among Commercial Sex Workers in India

Sexes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 202-215
Author(s):  
Satarupa Dasgupta
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Health Communication ◽  
Sex Workers ◽  
Female Sex Workers ◽  
Red Light ◽  
Community Mobilization ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Female Sex ◽  
Red Light District

The current paper examines the utilization of community mobilization as a strategic health communication technique in an intervention to reduce human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted infections (STI) rates among marginalized and at-risk populations such as commercial female sex workers in a red-light district in India. The research documents the struggles of a historically exploited community in India to mitigate its marginalization through implementation of a multilayered strategy of capacity building and economic empowerment. Semi-structured interviews of 37 commercial female sex workers were conducted in a red-light district of India. Qualitative analysis of the interview transcripts showed the prevalence of three themes which demonstrated the different facets of the community mobilization framework within the context of a health communication intervention. The findings of this research delineate how STI risk reduction as well as participation and empowerment can be achieved through a community-based health promotion project targeted towards commercial female sex workers within the context of their lived realities of marginalization and oppression.

Beyond the Brothels: A Qualitative Study of the Destitute Female Sex Workers of Central Delhi Red Light Area

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-36
Author(s):  
Anushree Nagpal ◽  
Atiqua Tajdar ◽  
Masood Ahsan Siddiqui ◽  
Mohammad Hassan ◽  
Suman Gaur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Workers ◽  
Female Sex Workers ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Red Light ◽  
Voluntary Organizations ◽  
Female Sex ◽  
Familial Support ◽  
Medical Facilities ◽  
Light Area

The term ‘sex workers’ refers to those involved in prostitution. This particular term is preferred as it does not have the derogatory, sexist connotation that the term ‘prostitute’ has. Belonging to a highly stigmatized profession with no financial and familial support forthcoming, the latter years of the lives of destitute female sex workers are spent in abject misery and poverty. Effort has been made to study the socio economic status and the ways adopted by these women, post active prostitution period, to support themselves and their families. This paper is based on the field study conducted in central Delhi red light area during August-September, 2016. Direct interviews with the respondents using questionnaires as well as participant observation techniques were used to collect the data. The study indicate that destitute female sex workers, once out of active prostitution, start working as domestic helpers, work with local voluntary organizations, or as helpers in brothels. The income earned is very meager with hardly any amount left to be saved. Most of the women live in one room rented accommodations. Their access to medical facilities was found to be extremely restricted.

Co-infection with genital gonorrhoea and genital chlamydia in female sex workers in Yunnan, China

2006 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 329-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiang-Sheng Chen ◽  
Yue-Ping Yin ◽  
Guo-Jun Liang ◽  
Xiang-Dong Gong ◽  
Hua-Sheng Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Workers ◽  
Female Sex Workers ◽  
Vaginal Discharge ◽  
Transmitted Disease ◽  
Clinical Information ◽  
Gonococcal Infection ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Female Sex ◽  
Control Programmes

An observational study on prevalence of co-infection with gonorrhoea and chlamydia was conducted among female sex workers (FSWs) in Kunming, China. A total of 505 FSWs participated in the study. All eligible participants gave informed consent. Demographic, behavioural and clinical information of the participants was gathered by direct structured interviews. Tampon swabs were collected to test for Chlamydia trachomatis and Nesseria gonorrhoeae. One-hundred and twenty-four (24.6%) FSWs were co-infected with these two pathogens. Of the 191 FSWs with gonorrhea, 124 (64.9%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 57.9–71.3%) were co-infected with chlamydia which was significantly higher than the proportion (41.9%, 95% CI = 36.4–47.6%) co-infected with gonorrhoea among 296 FSWs with chlamydia ( P < 0.001). Only 47 of 191 (24.6%) FSWs with gonococcal infection and 28 of 124 (22.6%) with co-infection with gonorrhoea and chlamydia reported vaginal discharge. The results of the study justify the recommendation in the national sexually transmitted disease (STD) guidelines that patients infected with gonorrhoea also be treated routinely with an anti-chlamydial regimen. However, a periodic mass treatment may be considered in some circumstances in STD control programmes to rapidly reduce the infections in this population.

A Qualitative Exploration of Family, Work, Community, and Health Service Influences on HIV Treatment Uptake and Adherence Among Female Sex Workers in Three Cities in Indonesia

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-259
Author(s):  
Elke Mitchell ◽  
Elan Lazuardi ◽  
Irma Anintya ◽  
Emily Rowe ◽  
Kate Whitford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Support Groups ◽  
Sex Workers ◽  
Female Sex Workers ◽  
Treatment Initiation ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Hiv Treatment ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Female Sex ◽  
Outreach Workers

Qualitative data were collected from 34 Indonesian female sex workers to understand their engagement with HIV treatment. Influences that enhanced treatment initiation and adherence included women's desires to stay healthy to continue working to provide for families; awareness of the biomedical benefits of treatment; support from bosses, outreach workers, and peer support groups; and flexible, nonjudgmental HIV service provision. Influences inhibiting treatment initiation and adherence included concerns about unwanted disclosure in the workplace and side effects of medication on women's capacity to earn money through sex work; geographical location of services; discrimination and confidentiality concerns in HIV care services. To improve HIV treatment initiation and adherence among Indonesian female sex workers, future responses should explore health promotion messages that engage with women's family and livelihood obligations; increased funding for community-based peer outreach workers; community-based treatment initiation and supply; and advocacy in work environments to secure support for treatment initiatives.

scholarly journals Measuring Current Drug Use in Female Sex Workers and Their Noncommercial Male Partners in Mexico: Concordance Between Data Collected From Surveys Versus Semi-Structured Interviews

2015 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-33
Author(s):  
Lawrence A. Palinkas ◽  
Angela Robertson Bazzi ◽  
Jennifer L. Syvertsen ◽  
Monica D. Ulibarri ◽  
Daniel Hernandez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Sex Workers ◽  
Female Sex Workers ◽  
Male Partners ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Current Drug ◽  
Female Sex
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