India: Sex Workers to Promote Condom Use, HIV Test

The twin cities of Hubli and Dharwad have among the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS in the state of Karnataka in India. Sex workers in these two cities have formed a peer group to educate fellow workers to take precautions while having sex to avoid sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV. The Society for People Actions for Development (SPAD) trained a team of 25 sex workers, mainly women, who will visit other sex workers to educate them about the use of condoms and undergoing an HIV test every six months.

Apart from the education initiative, a team works with and provides counseling for fellow sex workers who have HIV or STDs. Hubli and Dharwad have nearly 1,400 female sex workers: 40 percent of the sex workers operate from their homes, and 60 percent work on the streets. The SPAD peer educator said that the group meets with sex workers from rural areas arriving in their cities, provides free condoms, and educates the rural workers on prevention of HIV and STDs. SPAD also provides them with medical check-ups and HIV tests every six months.

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