The survey, in which 440 sex workers were interviewed, also found that a significant proportion of the brothel-based and mobile sex workers have suffered from violence.
NEW DELHI: They are the target population for HIV/AIDS prevention efforts in the country, but sex workers continue to be ignorant about transmission of this deadly disease, a study claimed. 90 per cent sex workers feel that HIV-transmission risk can be reduced by washing their genitals after sex, stated the study which was conducted by the NGOs Population Council and CARE-India.
“Over 90 per cent of sex workers mentioned they wash their vagina with water mixed with dettol, soda or turmeric after sex.
This puts at risk not just their health, but others as well,” said Vaishali Sharma Mahendra, a senior programme officer of the Population Council.
The survey was done in the towns of Rajahmundry and Kakinada in the east Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, which is considered to have one of the highest HIV-prevalence rates in the country. “Though awareness about modes of HIV transmission and methods of prevention was very high among sex workers, myths and misconceptions were also prevalent,” she said.
The study also found that those who are HIV-positive used condoms with their regular partners, but the others, who are free of the infection, use it only with their clients and not with their husbands or lovers.
The survey, in which 440 sex workers were interviewed, also found that a significant proportion of the brothel-based and mobile sex workers have suffered from violence.
While half of them said they were beaten and slapped, one-fourth mentioned they were forced to have sex with one person and one-fifth reported that they were forced to have sex with more than one person, it said.
The majority of the sex workers also said they drank daily, mostly with their customers, due to which they often forgot to use a condom.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}