Best practice in reduction of vulnerability of girls to HIV / AIDS
Kanchanachitra, C.
Warasan Prachakon Lae Sangkhom 7(1): 53-83
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0857-717X PMID: 12294263 Document Number: 277945
This article describes trends in AIDS, child prostitution, reasons for prostitution, and strategies for preventing child prostitution in Thailand. The study examined the effectiveness of the Sema Life Development Project in 3 provinces (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Phayao) in 1994. The project provided high school scholarships to poor girls in order to prevent entrance into the commercial sex worker (CSW) trade. HIV prevalence rates among direct CSWs rose from 3.5% to 28.9% during 1989-96, and from 1.6% to 11.1% among indirect CSWs. The problem of HIV infected CSWs is particularly severe in northern provinces. The main reason for girls entering prostitution is to satisfy parents' need for money for material goods and survival. The Sema Life Development Project identified 8 provinces in the north that were the highest risk areas for girls becoming CSWs. Five factors were identified as instrumental to entering the trade: poverty, materialistic attitudes, lack of education, agent persuasion, and family difficulties. The project provided 400 scholarships to day students and 500 scholarships for boarding students. The scholarships helped students finish high school. The project also established CSW information centers and campaigns for preventing prostitution. Interviews with 86 girl students revealed that scholarships were important in permitting continuation of their education and prevention of their entering the CSW trade. The project learned that selection of students was the most important step. Data collection should be improved. Curricula should offer greater alternatives for employment.