Barna S, Blans J, Biersteker S, Paalman M; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 1992 Jul 19-24; 8: D489 (abstract no. PoD 5601).

UCLA.

OBJECTIVES: To test the feasibility of conducting health education and evaluating it among hard-to-reach prostitutes and clients. To determine whether one group of HIV prevention materials can reach health educators, brothels owners, prostitutes, and clients, and both appeal to and be used by these diverse groups. METHODS: All interviews were conducted by an independent specialist in prostitution research over a period of four months. Ten districts were selected for evaluation from a combination of municipalities and rural areas. All twelve intermediary health and social workers who were invited to participate in the study agreed to do so and were interviewed by telephone. These intermediaries obtained the cooperation of brothel owners (response rate 11/14) in their district, to whom a questionnaire was administered in person. More than 50 streetwalkers, brothel workers, and call-girls, and 3 clients were interviewed informally. RESULTS: Health educators reacted favorably to the material design and content, and were motivated to contact the target groups. Brothel owners tented to display and distributed the safe sex material only if they felt it was good for business. Prostitutes were most enthusiastic about the material when they didn't feel scape-goated/targeted. Respondents in all categories found the educational materials appropriate. CONCLUSIONS: A useful impact evaluation can indeed be conducted among marginalized groups, as long as the evaluation structure is flexible. Gatekeepers should be involved in the design of the project and its materials in order to insure that they reach the target groups.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Behavior
• Communication
• Data Collection
• Evaluation Studies
• Female
• Health Education
• Humans
• Netherlands
• Prostitution
• Safe Sex
• Social Welfare
• education
• methods

Other ID:

• 92403077

UI: 102200791

From Meeting Abstracts