1Undergraduate Student, Department of Clinical Medicine, Xiangya Medical School, Central South University, Changsha, China
2Professor, School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China
3Undergraduate Student, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
4Undergraduate Student, Department of Clinical Medicine, Chongqing University, Chonqing, China
5Undergraduate Student, School Of Finance, Guang Dong Unveristy Of Business Studies, Guangzhou, China
Online published on 13 February, 2013.
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.
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).
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.
HIV-STI Awareness, Risk Perception, Street-Based Female Sex Workers, Sociocultural Factors
