Machado VM, Torres VA; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 2002 Jul 7-12; 14: abstract no. WePeE6566.

Amazona - Prevencao a AIDS, Joao Pessoa, Brazil

BACKGROUND: In June 2001 AMAZONA took up a study with Sex Professional in order to compare the growing of information and its real practice and attitudes with these women, after 5 years of preventing DST/AIDS works in Joao Pessoa - PB - Brazil. METHODOLOGY: The study was done with 156 women sex professionals that are the representative of an amount of 500 women. Data instrument used was a questionnaire applied by a group of 3 social workers. Average of attendance was what data used as a base. RESULTS: 151 women were interviewed, 79% between 18 and 30 years old and 21% between 31 and 41 years of age, where 5% are illiterate and 78% finished elementary school; 78% are mother; 54,32% of them say that the mainly reason for beginning in the profession was on account of financial problems, but 25% say that it was on account of personal desire; 50,33% of those women are between 1 and 5 years doing this job and only 16% are for less than 1 year. 48% states being injured by violence by their clients, bars owners and policemen in the streets; 82% of those professionals state to know what a DST is. 64% know about AIDS; 96% say the condom is the best way to prevent oneself from DST/AIDS in sexual intercourses and 52% state using the preservative with habitual partners. CONCLUSIONS: The violence suffered by their clients and policemen stated by sex professionals is a factor that leads us to know that there is a lot to do for those women's rights guarantees. This is still another indicator of their vulnerability. Although knowing about it has increased since 1996, it is still necessary that actions are continued so that this vulnerable situation to which those women are exposed do not give cause to a retrocession on those results. Greater support might be given to the Sex Professional Association - APROS, so that they can fight for their rights.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Attitude
• Brazil
• Condoms
• Female
• Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
• Human Rights
• Humans
• Interpersonal Relations
• education

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0017642

UI: 102255140

From Meeting Abstracts