Community development and HIV/STI-related vulnerability among female sex workers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Deanna Kerrigan; Paulo Telles; Helena Torres; Cheryl Overs; Christopher Castle

doi:10.1093/her/cym011

Community development and HIV/STI-related vulnerability among female sex workers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Deanna Kerrigan, Paulo Telles, Helena Torres, Cheryl Overs, Christopher Castle

Bloomberg School of Public Health

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

82 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Sonagachi Project of Kolkata, India has been recognized as a model community development and human immunodeficiency virus/sexually transmitted infection (HIV/STI) prevention intervention among female sex workers. Limited research has been conducted regarding its applicability outside the South Asian context. This study sought to document the process and effectiveness of integrating community development activities based on the Sonagachi model into an ongoing HIV/STI peer education program with female sex workers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Structured cross-sectional surveys examining HIV/STI-related behaviors and community development measures were conducted among ∼500 sex workers at pre- and post-intervention. We found that several community development components including social cohesion and mutual aid were significantly associated with consistent condom use among sex workers and their paying clients at pre-intervention. However, only a minority of women actively engaged in community-building activities over the 18-month study period. In turn, limited changes in community development components and no significant increases in the HIV/STI-related protective behaviors assessed were documented. Findings indicate that internalized stigma and socioeconomic pressures may have constrained the scope and pace of community mobilization in this setting during the study observation period.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	137-145
Number of pages	9
Journal	Health education research
Volume	23
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/her/cym011
State	Published - Feb 2008

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Education
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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@article{4fdb4c0705e6451ea30b1a7fa62b7db9,

title = "Community development and HIV/STI-related vulnerability among female sex workers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil",

abstract = "The Sonagachi Project of Kolkata, India has been recognized as a model community development and human immunodeficiency virus/sexually transmitted infection (HIV/STI) prevention intervention among female sex workers. Limited research has been conducted regarding its applicability outside the South Asian context. This study sought to document the process and effectiveness of integrating community development activities based on the Sonagachi model into an ongoing HIV/STI peer education program with female sex workers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Structured cross-sectional surveys examining HIV/STI-related behaviors and community development measures were conducted among ∼500 sex workers at pre- and post-intervention. We found that several community development components including social cohesion and mutual aid were significantly associated with consistent condom use among sex workers and their paying clients at pre-intervention. However, only a minority of women actively engaged in community-building activities over the 18-month study period. In turn, limited changes in community development components and no significant increases in the HIV/STI-related protective behaviors assessed were documented. Findings indicate that internalized stigma and socioeconomic pressures may have constrained the scope and pace of community mobilization in this setting during the study observation period.",

author = "Deanna Kerrigan and Paulo Telles and Helena Torres and Cheryl Overs and Christopher Castle",

note = "Funding Information: This research is dedicated to the memory of Paulo Longo, this study{\textquoteright}s principal investigator and long-time HIV/AIDS and human rights activist. Without his passion and dedication, this study would not have been realized. We would like to thank all of the sex workers who participated in the intervention and research, particularly the leadership of Fio da Alma, the local sex work organization that made this initiative possible. In particular, we would like to extend our gratitude to the work of Fio da Alma{\textquoteright}s President, Ivanilda Santos de Lima. We would also like to thank Celia Szterenfeld, Rose Soares and Lourdes de Alecrim from the Programa Integrado de Marginalidade, the local NGO that helped to coordinate the implementation of the intervention as well as Zelia Caldeira and Zairine Freire from the Sociedade de Estudos E Pesquisas em Drogadiccao which oversaw the research conducted in Rio de Janeiro. Finally, we would like to thank Naomi Rutenberg, Ellen Weiss, Katie Schenk and Malea Hoepf. The time dedicated to this paper by its first author was partially supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (Grant K01 MH3491).",

year = "2008",

month = feb,

doi = "10.1093/her/cym011",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "23",

pages = "137--145",

journal = "Health education research",

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AU - Kerrigan, Deanna

AU - Telles, Paulo

AU - Torres, Helena

AU - Overs, Cheryl

AU - Castle, Christopher

N1 - Funding Information: This research is dedicated to the memory of Paulo Longo, this study’s principal investigator and long-time HIV/AIDS and human rights activist. Without his passion and dedication, this study would not have been realized. We would like to thank all of the sex workers who participated in the intervention and research, particularly the leadership of Fio da Alma, the local sex work organization that made this initiative possible. In particular, we would like to extend our gratitude to the work of Fio da Alma’s President, Ivanilda Santos de Lima. We would also like to thank Celia Szterenfeld, Rose Soares and Lourdes de Alecrim from the Programa Integrado de Marginalidade, the local NGO that helped to coordinate the implementation of the intervention as well as Zelia Caldeira and Zairine Freire from the Sociedade de Estudos E Pesquisas em Drogadiccao which oversaw the research conducted in Rio de Janeiro. Finally, we would like to thank Naomi Rutenberg, Ellen Weiss, Katie Schenk and Malea Hoepf. The time dedicated to this paper by its first author was partially supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (Grant K01 MH3491).

PY - 2008/2

Y1 - 2008/2

N2 - The Sonagachi Project of Kolkata, India has been recognized as a model community development and human immunodeficiency virus/sexually transmitted infection (HIV/STI) prevention intervention among female sex workers. Limited research has been conducted regarding its applicability outside the South Asian context. This study sought to document the process and effectiveness of integrating community development activities based on the Sonagachi model into an ongoing HIV/STI peer education program with female sex workers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Structured cross-sectional surveys examining HIV/STI-related behaviors and community development measures were conducted among ∼500 sex workers at pre- and post-intervention. We found that several community development components including social cohesion and mutual aid were significantly associated with consistent condom use among sex workers and their paying clients at pre-intervention. However, only a minority of women actively engaged in community-building activities over the 18-month study period. In turn, limited changes in community development components and no significant increases in the HIV/STI-related protective behaviors assessed were documented. Findings indicate that internalized stigma and socioeconomic pressures may have constrained the scope and pace of community mobilization in this setting during the study observation period.

AB - The Sonagachi Project of Kolkata, India has been recognized as a model community development and human immunodeficiency virus/sexually transmitted infection (HIV/STI) prevention intervention among female sex workers. Limited research has been conducted regarding its applicability outside the South Asian context. This study sought to document the process and effectiveness of integrating community development activities based on the Sonagachi model into an ongoing HIV/STI peer education program with female sex workers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Structured cross-sectional surveys examining HIV/STI-related behaviors and community development measures were conducted among ∼500 sex workers at pre- and post-intervention. We found that several community development components including social cohesion and mutual aid were significantly associated with consistent condom use among sex workers and their paying clients at pre-intervention. However, only a minority of women actively engaged in community-building activities over the 18-month study period. In turn, limited changes in community development components and no significant increases in the HIV/STI-related protective behaviors assessed were documented. Findings indicate that internalized stigma and socioeconomic pressures may have constrained the scope and pace of community mobilization in this setting during the study observation period.

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Community development and HIV/STI-related vulnerability among female sex workers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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