Dallas Swendeman|Ishika Basu|Sankari Das|Smarajit Jana|Mary Jane Rotheram?Borus
Empowering sex workers in India to reduce vulnerability to HIV and sexually transmitted diseases
Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee|Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee|Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee
sonagachi project initiated kolkata india 1992 stdhiv intervention sex workers project evolved adopt strategies common womens empowerment programs globally ie community mobilization rightsbased framing advocacy microfinance address common factors support effective evidencebased hivstd prevention sonagachi model broadly diffused evidencebased empowerment program previously demonstrated significant condom use increases among female sex workers 16 month replication trial sonagachi empowerment intervention n 110 compared control community n 106 receiving standard care std clinic condom promotion peer education two randomly assigned rural towns west bengal india basu et al 2004 article examines interventions impacts 21 measured variables reflecting five common factors effective hivstd prevention programs estimate impact empowerment strategies hivstd prevention program goals intervention conducted 20002001 significantly 1 improved knowledge stds condom protection std hiv maintained stdhiv risk perceptions despite treatment 2 provided frame motivate change based reframing sex work valid work increasing disclosure profession instilling hopeful future orientation reflected desire education training 3 improved skills sexual workplace negotiations reflected increased refusal condom decisionmaking ability change work contract ability take leave 4 built social support increasing social interactions outside work social function participation helping sex workers 5 addressed environmental barriers economic vulnerabilities increasing savings alternative income working locations reduced loan taking increase voting build social capital studys results demonstrate compared narrowcast clinical prevention services alone empowerment strategies significantly impact broader range factors reduce vulnerability hivstds