Organizing a project with community-based health agents recruited from prostitutes in Rio de Janeiro
Peterson, C.; Szterenfeld, C.
Public Health 106(3): 217-223
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0033-3506 PMID: 1603925 DOI: 10.1016/s0033-3506(05)80539-6Document Number: 321858
In Brazil, the Prostitution and Civil Rights Program works to fight against stigma and violence against sex workers and to foster self-esteem, self-determination, and greater access to civil rights. It sponsors the Brazilian Prostitutes' Network. In 1988, the Ministry of Health asked the program to join the Ministry to produce sexually transmitted disease/AIDS prevention materials. The materials were ready for distribution in early 1991 when the program began recruiting prostitutes and transvestites for its Health Education Project. The aforementioned groups and the Brazilian chapter of International Planned Parenthood Federation are working together on this project. By mid-1992, the project recruited 17 community-based health agents (15 female and 2 male prostitutes) from different prostitution areas and through a network of contacts from these areas of Rio de Janeiro. After informal training in April or June 1991, they went into their communities to inform people of their health agent role, distributed free condoms and AIDS education material, and promoted the project. Health agents maintain a weekly report of condom and education material distribution. This allows them to monitor their progress. Health agents now meet with their peers to discuss sex and health issues. The communities have opened their doors to the groups. The project is also geographically mapping the sex trade to target health care and other resources in each area. It is pursuing a reference/counterreference relationship within the existing public health system in Rio de Janeiro. Involvement of sex workers in all phases contributes to the success of the project so far. Future research is needed to determine whether the project is reducing risk of HIV transmission, however.