Tara S. Beattie, Shajy Isac, Parinita Bhattacharjee, Prakash Javalkar, Calum Davey, T. Raghavendra, Sapna Nair, Satyanarayana Ramanaik, D. L. Kavitha, James F. Blanchard, Charlotte Watts, Martine Collumbien, Stephen Moses and Lori Heise
BMC Public Health, 2016;
Reducing violence and increasing condom use in the intimate partnerships of female sex workers: study protocol for Samvedana Plu
Female sex workers (FSWs) are at increased risk of HIV and STIs compared to women in the general population, and frequently experience violence in their working and domestic lives from a variety of perpetrators, which can enhance this risk. While progress has been made in addressing violence by police and clients, little work has been done to understand and prevent violence by intimate partners (IPs) among FSW populations.
This study protocol details Samvedana Plus, a multi-level intervention programme that works with FSWs, their IPs, the sex worker community, and the general population, and aims to reduce violence and increase consistent condom use within these ‘intimate’ relationships. The programme involves shifting norms around the acceptability of beating as a form of discipline, challenging gender roles that give men authority over women, and working with men and women to encourage new relationship models based on gender equity and respect. The programme will aim to cover 800 FSWs and their IPs living in 47 villages in Bagalkot district, northern Karnataka.
The trial will provide important findings that can be used to inform programme design and policy, both in the HIV and violence prevention fields as well as evidence on the feasibility of the approach of addressing IPV among FSWs in this setting.
Download the full study protocol here.
