Abstract
This study evaluated the efficacy of an HIV intervention among female sex workers (FSWs) randomized to an intervention or wait-list control. FSWs (N = 120) completed baseline, 3- and 6-month assessments. A health educator implemented 2-hour intervention emphasized gender-empowerment, self-efficacy to persuade clients to use condoms, condom application skills, and eroticizing safer sex. Over the 6-month follow-up, FSWs in the intervention reported more consistent condom use with clients (P = .004) and were more likely to apply condoms on clients (P = .0001). Intervention effects were observed for other psychosocial mediators of safer sex. Brief, gender and culturally congruent interventions can enhance HIV-preventive behaviors among FSWs.
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Acknowledgements
This research was supported by the US Civil Research and Development Foundation (ARX1-2719-YE-06) and the NIH/FIC AIDS International Training and Research Program of the Emory University (2D43TWO1042). We would like to thank the women who participated in this study as well as Drs. Nora Mnatsakanyan and Marina Khachaturyan of Hope and Help NGO for their dedication to this study and to the women of Yerevan, Armenia.
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Markosyan, K., Lang, D.L., Salazar, L.F. et al. A Randomized Controlled Trial of an HIV Prevention Intervention for Street-Based Female Sex Workers in Yerevan, Armenia: Preliminary Evidence of Efficacy. AIDS Behav 14, 530–537 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-010-9689-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-010-9689-9