Honour and Prestige: The influence of social norms on violence against women and girls in Karnataka, South India

This qualitative paper draws on findings from Samata and Samvedana+, two STRIVE evaluation studies of norms interventions, implemented by the Karnataka Health Promotion Trust (KHPT).

Transactional Sex in Sub-Saharan Africa: Meaning, Measurements and Implications for HIV Prevention - Kirsten Stoebenau and Joyce Wamoyi

In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) ages 15 - 24 are at high risk of HIV. Within SSA, AGYW have at least twice the risk of infection as their male counterparts and account for over forty percent of new infections among all women. Transactional sex (TS) is cited among the main factors driving AGYW’s increased HIV risk.

Revisiting the understanding of “transactional sex” in sub-Saharan Africa: A review and synthesis of the literature

, ; Read the full paper online

In sub-Saharan Africa, young women ages 15–24 have more than twice the risk of acquiring HIV as their male counterparts. A growing body of epidemiological evidence suggests that the practice of “transactional sex” (TS) may contribute to this disparity.

Reducing intimate partner violence against female sex workers: findings from the Samvedana Plus baseline study

Samvedana Plus is an intervention and evaluation study designed to understand and address violence and HIV risk in female sex workers' relationships with their intimate partners.

Client-perpetrated and husband-perpetrated violence among female sex workers in Andhra Pradesh, India: HIV/STI risk across personal and work contexts

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This study examines personal and work based violence and its relation to HIV risk factors among female sex workers in Andrha Pradesh, India.

To varying degrees women who experienced client or husband violence were:

Potential impact of pre-exposure prophylaxis for female sex workers and men who have sex with men in Bangalore, India: a mathematical modelling study

, ; JIAS, Volume 19, No.1

In Bangalore, new HIV infections of female sex workers and men who have sex with men continue to occur, despite high condom use. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has high anti-HIV efficacy for men who have sex with men. PrEP demonstration projects are underway amongst Indian female sex workers. This research estimated the impact and efficiency of prioritising PrEP to female sex workers and/or men who have sex with men in Bangalore using a mathematical modelling method. 

The results show that:

Transactional sex and risk for HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

, ; JIAS, Volume 19, No.1

Young women aged 15 to 24 years in sub-Saharan Africa continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV. A growing number of studies have suggested that the practice of transactional sex may in part explain women’s heightened risk, but evidence on the association between transactional sex and HIV has not yet been synthesised. This research set out to systematically review studies that assess the relationship between transactional sex and HIV among men and women in sub-Saharan Africa.

Reducing intimate partner violence and increasing condom usage in the HIV/STI response: a facilitator's guide for training intimate partners of female sex workers

Research studies have shown a significant link between non condom use, HIV and gender-based violence.

Reducing intimate partner violence and increasing condom usage in the HIV/STI response: a facilitator's guide for training female sex workers

Research has shown a significant link between non-use of condoms, HIV and gender-based violence. Sex workers’ ability to negotiate condom use with intimate partners (IPs) is severely compromised by several factors that include their emotional and sometimes financial dependence on the partners, inequitable power relationships with their IPs, violence in their intimate relationships, social norms defining their acceptable behaviour and expectations around fidelity. These factors increase their vulnerability to HIV.

This guide is written to help facilitators cum counsellors to:

Using peer group reflection to empower sex workers to reduce violence and increase condom use with their intimate partner relationships

This poster was presented at the 12th International Conference on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific, 12-14 March in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

You can find other related resources on our Samvedana Plus project page.

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