Hey girlfriend: an evaluation of AIDS prevention among women in the sex industry
Dorfman, L.E.; Derish, P.A.; Cohen, J.B.
Health Education Quarterly 19(1): 25-40
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0195-8402 PMID: 1568872 DOI: 10.1177/109019819201900103Document Number: 324995
Qualitative and quantitative methods were combined to evaluate the process and outcome of an AIDS prevention program for sex workers in the San Francisco Bay area. 182 women and 43 of their male, noncommercial, steady partners participated in the study over the period July 1, 1989 - June 30, 1990. Mean age was 30 years, 74.2% of women were Black, 16.5% White, and 5.5% Latina. Data were collected for health status, sexual activity, drug use, and serological status for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B. Open-ended interviews were conducted and ethnographic field notes taken. The study revealed that while sex workers may fell at risk for HIV and AIDS, perceived risk stems mostly from sex with clients and not from husbands or boyfriends. Condoms are used in this sample far more frequently with clients than with steady partners. Efforts should therefore be made to increase condom use among steady partners. The study also found former sex worker field staff indigenous to the neighborhood and population to be highly effective in recruiting participants and disseminating information. Moreover, these workers became role models for positive behavior change. Combining evaluative approaches proved more effective in determining how to best reach sex workers regarding AIDS risk reduction messages than could either approach independently.