Theophilus S, Baptie P, Theophilus SC; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1998; 12: 895-6 (abstract no. 43247).
Youth CO AIDS Society, Vancouver, Canada.
ISSUE: How to teach young women in the sex trade safer sex strategies while they are working in an accepting way which relies on the knowledge and abilities that are already present in this community. PROJECT: Traditionally, education and outreach to young women working in the sex trade has been degrading and mainly focused on getting them off of the streets. There are many organizations working to accomplish these tasks, but none support them or address their issues or concerns while they are working. This therefore puts them at great risk for HIV transmission. As a result, this project was developed to fill this gap in a peer-for-peer, harm reduction approach. It uses street workers as peer educators, and advocates for other young women who are working but are not in a position to do so themselves. Strategies for education include one-to-one street outreach, condom distribution, information dissemination on condom use and alternatives to intercourse while working, referral to agencies. RESULTS: This project has been very well received by the young women working. They are now actively soliciting information from our outreach worker, and passing on our name to other workers. Our outreach worker has been approached by pimps, and has done workshops for their girls. There is now an interest in this community to develop their own resource brochure that can be circulated to young women, especially new workers. LESSONS LEARNED: Effective strategies of education to this population begins with an acceptance of what they do and who they are, and an understanding of the level and amount of education required.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Female
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Humans
- Interpersonal Relations
- Organizations
- Peer Group
- Teaching
- education
Other ID:
UI: 102231413
From Meeting Abstracts