Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development

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General Life Status and Risk Perception on STI-HIV among Street-based Female Sex Workers between 18 and 25 Years Old in Bangalore, India


Affiliations
1 Department of Clinical Medicine, Xiangya Medical School, Central South University, Changsha, China
2 School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China
3 School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
4 Department of Clinical Medicine, Chongqing University, Chonqing, China
5 School Of Finance, Guang Dong University Of Business Studies, Guangzhou, China
     

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Objective: Unsafe sex is the main cause of the spread of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in India. Female sex workers (FSWs) are a high-risk group for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI). It is imperative for FSWs to know the danger of unsafe sex to reduce HIV transmission. The purpose of this study is to get a general picture of the life status, awareness of HIV-STI and risk perception among street-based FSWs between 18 and 25 years old in Bangalore, India, and discover some sociocultural factors that facilitate the spread of HIV and STI.

Materials and Methods: Based on a specific questionnaire we designed, qualitative data were collected. Data were also collected using semi-structured group interviews with FSWs through a focus group discussion (N=14) and individual interviews (n=20).

Result and Conclusion: General life status for most sex workers is not optimistic. Complex FSW-police relationship, stigma and discrimination, going away from main stream and living in isolation may result in self-abandonment in sex workers, creating extra risks for HIV prevention. Although the majority of FSWs have acquired a basic knowledge of HIV-STI with misconceptions, the practice of unsafe sex still persists. Therefore it is urgent for FSWs to increase their knowledge on HIV-STI, to know how to protect their rights and get more help from the society.


Keywords

HIV-STI Awareness, Risk Perception, Street-based Female Sex Workers, Sociocultural Factors
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  • A. Heravian, R. Solomon, G. Krishnan, C.K. Vasudevan, A.K. Krishnan and T. Osmand. Alcohol Consumption Patterns and Sexual Risk Behavior among Female Sex Workers in Two South Indian Communities, International Journal of Drug Policy, in press.

  • P.T. Walker, T.B. Hallett, P.J. White and G.P. Garnett. Interpreting Declines in HIV Prevalence: Impact of Spatial Aggregation and Migration on Expected Declines in Prevalence, Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2008, 84(Suppl 2): ii42-ii48.

  • E. Bruce, L. Bauai, M. Sapuri, J.M. Kaldor, C.K. Fairley and L.A. Keogh. HIV Knowledge, Risk Perception, and Safer Sex Practices among Female Sex Workers in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, International Journal of Women’s Health, 2011, 3: 53-61.

  • K. Ray, M. Bala, M. Bhattacharya, S. Muralidhar, M. Kumari and S. Salhan. Prevalence of RTI/STI Agents and HIV Infection in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Women Attending Peripheral Health Set-ups in Delhi, India, Epidemiol Infect, 2008, 136(10): 1432-1440.

  • A.M. Stark and A. Hope. Aboriginal Women’s Stories of Sexually Transmissible Infection Transmission and Condom Use in Remote Central Australia, Sex Health, 2007, 4(4): 237-242.

  • H. A. C. M. Voeten, O. B. Egesah, C. M. Varkevisser and J. D. F. Habbema, Female Sex Workers and Unsafe Sex in Urban and Rural Nyanza, Kenya: Regular Partners May Contribute More to HIV Transmission Than Clients, Tropical Medicine & International Health, 2007, 12(2): 174-182.


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  • General Life Status and Risk Perception on STI-HIV among Street-based Female Sex Workers between 18 and 25 Years Old in Bangalore, India

Abstract Views: 247  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Yuhui Zhang
Department of Clinical Medicine, Xiangya Medical School, Central South University, Changsha, China
Huilan Xu
School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China
Mengyi Ding
School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Wanqian Wang
Department of Clinical Medicine, Chongqing University, Chonqing, China
Yijie Zhang
School Of Finance, Guang Dong University Of Business Studies, Guangzhou, China

Abstract


Objective: Unsafe sex is the main cause of the spread of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in India. Female sex workers (FSWs) are a high-risk group for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI). It is imperative for FSWs to know the danger of unsafe sex to reduce HIV transmission. The purpose of this study is to get a general picture of the life status, awareness of HIV-STI and risk perception among street-based FSWs between 18 and 25 years old in Bangalore, India, and discover some sociocultural factors that facilitate the spread of HIV and STI.

Materials and Methods: Based on a specific questionnaire we designed, qualitative data were collected. Data were also collected using semi-structured group interviews with FSWs through a focus group discussion (N=14) and individual interviews (n=20).

Result and Conclusion: General life status for most sex workers is not optimistic. Complex FSW-police relationship, stigma and discrimination, going away from main stream and living in isolation may result in self-abandonment in sex workers, creating extra risks for HIV prevention. Although the majority of FSWs have acquired a basic knowledge of HIV-STI with misconceptions, the practice of unsafe sex still persists. Therefore it is urgent for FSWs to increase their knowledge on HIV-STI, to know how to protect their rights and get more help from the society.


Keywords


HIV-STI Awareness, Risk Perception, Street-based Female Sex Workers, Sociocultural Factors

References