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Acceptability of a Microenterprise Intervention Among Female Sex Workers in Chennai, India

This research  evaluated changes in HIV risk taking as a result of sex workers sewing hessian bags in India. "Intervention participants reported a significantly lower number of sex partners and significant increases in income at the 6-month follow-up compared to control participants. In a multivariate model, intervention participants had a significantly lower number of paying clients per month at follow-up compared to control participants. By graduation, 75% of intervention arm participants had made at least one sellable canvas bag and 6 months after the study's end, 60% have continued involvement in bag production."

Comment: Although no changes in condom use occurred, the authors claim that the pilot study demonstrated that "microenterprise interventions are successful in both providing FSWs with licit income opportunities and was associated with reductions in HIV risk behaviors." This assumes that fewer clients equals reduced risk of exposure to HIV. That assumption may be driven more by ideology than by epidemiology. 
 
 
 
 
Year of publication: 
2010
Theme: 
Economics and Development
Theme: 
Health and HIV
Author: 
Sherman SG, Srikrishnan AK, Rivett KA, Liu SH, Solomon S, Celentano DD.
Relevant URL: 
Link to the article on the pubmed website
in