Effectiveness of self-care interventional package in promoting sexual health among female sex workers registered with selected NGOs of Chandigarh

Authors

  • Anamika National Institute of Nursing Education, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
  • Sushma Kumari Saini National Institute of Nursing Education, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
  • Bhim Singh National Institute of Nursing Education, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
  • Sandeep Mittal State AIDS Control Society, Chandigarh, India
  • Manmeet Kaur Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20262235

Keywords:

FSW, HIV, STI, Sexual health, Self-care interventional package

Abstract

Background: Female sex workers who receive money and goods in exchange for sex They multiple sex partners and hence are vulnerable population and is highly susceptible for acquiring sexually transmitted infections with HIV. Such vulnerability may result in poor sexual health of the female sex workers.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted for the promotion of sexual health among FSW registered with NGO. Randomization was done by lottery method. Interviews were conducted with Interview Schedule for baseline assessment and interventional package administered to experimental group. End-line assessment was conducted to assess the effect of selfcare interventional package.

Results: After implementation of self-care interventional package there was improvement in knowledge and reduction in unsafe sexual practices.

Conclusions: The self-care interventional package was effective in improving sexual health.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Suresh G, Furr LA, Srikrishnan AK. An assessment of the mental health of street-based sex workers in Chennai, India. J Contemp Crim Justice. 2009;25(2):186-201. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1043986209333590

Ghose T, Swendeman D, George S, Chowdhury D. Mobilizing collective identity to reduce HIV risk among sex workers in Sonagachi, India: the boundaries, consciousness, negotiation framework. Soc Sci Med. 2008;67(2):311-20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2008.03.045

Campbell C, Mzaidume Z. Grassroots participation, peer education, and HIV prevention by sex workers in South Africa. Am J Public Health. 2001;91(12):1978-86. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.91.12.1978

Dandona R, Dandona L, Gutierrez JP, Kumar AG, McPherson S, Samuels F, et al. High risk of HIV in non-brothel based female sex workers in India. BMC Public Health. 2005;5:87. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-5-87

Rou K, Wu Z, Sullivan SG, Li F, Guan J, Xu C, et al. A five-city trial of a behavioural intervention to reduce sexually transmitted disease/HIV risk among sex workers in China. AIDS. 2007;21(8):S95-101. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/01.aids.0000304703.77755.c7

Globerman J, Mitra S, Gogolishvili D, Rueda S, Schoffel L, Gangbar K, et al. HIV/STI prevention interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Open Med (Wars). 2017;12:450-67. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/med-2017-0064

Steen R, Chersich M, Gerbase A, Neilsen G, Wendland A, Ndowa F, et al. Periodic presumptive treatment of curable sexually transmitted infections among sex workers: a systematic review. AIDS. 2012;26(4):437-45. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/QAD.0b013e32834ed991

Delvaux T, Crabbé F, Seng S, Laga M. The need for family planning and safe abortion services among women sex workers seeking STI care in Cambodia. Reprod Health Matters. 2003;11(21):88-95. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0968-8080(03)02163-3

Argento E, Reza-Paul S, Lorway R, Jain J, Bhagya M, Fathima M, et al. Confronting structural violence in sex work: lessons from a community-led HIV prevention project in Mysore, India. AIDS Care. 2011;23(1):69-74. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09540121.2010.498868

Platt L, Grenfell P, Fletcher A, Sorhaindo A, Jolley E, Rhodes T, et al. Systematic review examining differences in HIV, sexually transmitted infections and health-related harms between migrant and non-migrant female sex workers. Sex Transm Infect. 2013;89(4):311-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/sextrans-2012-050491

Sriwanthana B, Hodge T, Mastro TD, Dezzutti CS, Bond K, Stephens HA, et al. HIV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes, HLA-A11, and chemokine-related factors may act synergistically to determine HIV resistance in CCR5 delta32-negative female sex workers in Chiang Rai, northern Thailand. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2001;17(8):719-34. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/088922201750236997

Silverman JG. Adolescent female sex workers: invisibility, violence and HIV. Arch Dis Child. 2011;96(5):478-81. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/adc.2009.178715

Wirtz AL, Pretorius C, Beyrer C, Baral S, Decker MR, Sherman SG, et al. Epidemic impacts of a community empowerment intervention for HIV prevention among female sex workers in generalized and concentrated epidemics. PLoS One. 2014;9(2):e88047. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0088047

Fonner VA, Kerrigan D, Mnisi Z, Ketende S, Kennedy CE, Baral S. Social cohesion, social participation, and HIV-related risk among female sex workers in Swaziland. PLoS One. 2014;9(1):e87527. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0087527

Ramesh BM, Beattie TS, Shajy I, Washington R, Jagannathan L, Reza-Paul S, et al. Changes in risk behaviours and prevalence of sexually transmitted infections following HIV preventive interventions among female sex workers in five districts in Karnataka state, south India. Sex Transm Infect. 2010;86(1):i17-24. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/sti.2009.038513

Steen R, Mogasale V, Wi T, Singh AK, Das A, Daly C, et al. Pursuing scale and quality in STI interventions with sex workers: initial results from Avahan India AIDS Initiative. Sex Transm Infect. 2006;82(5):381-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/sti.2006.020438

Ford K, Wirawan DN, Fajans P, Meliawan P, MacDonald K, Thorpe L. Behavioral interventions for reduction of sexually transmitted disease/HIV transmission among female commercial sex workers and clients in Bali, Indonesia. AIDS. 1996;10(2):213-22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00002030-199602000-00013

Lau JT, Tsui HY, Siah PC, Zhang KL. A study on female sex workers in southern China (Shenzhen): HIV-related knowledge, condom use and STD history. AIDS Care. 2002;14(2):219-33. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09540120220104721

Donovan B. The AIDS Manual. In: Gold J, Penny R, Ross MW, Morey S, Stewart G, Donovan B, Berenger S, editors. The AIDS Manual. Sydney: MacLennan and Petty; 1994.

Spielberg F, Branson BM, Goldbaum GM, Lockhart D, Kurth A, Rossini A, et al. Choosing HIV counseling and testing strategies for outreach settings: a randomized trial. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2005;38(3):348-55.

Williams BG, Taljaard D, Campbell CM, Gouws E, Ndhlovu L, Van Dam J, et al. Changing patterns of knowledge, reported behaviour and sexually transmitted infections in a South African gold mining community. AIDS. 2003;17(14):2099-107. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00002030-200309260-00011

Dandash KF, Al-Mohaimeed A. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices surrounding breast cancer and screening in female teachers of Buraidah, Saudi Arabia. Int J Health Sci (Qassim). 2007;1(1):61-71.

Harmon MP, Castro F, Coe K. Acculturation and cervical cancer: Knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors of Hispanic women. Women Health. 1996;24(3):37-57. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1300/J013v24n03_03

Sun J, Dong S, Gong J, Xie J, Yan H. Human papillomavirus vaccination willingness and influencing factors among women in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Prev Med Rep. 2025;58:103215. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2025.103215

Chersich MF, Luchters S, Blaauw D, Scorgie F, Honikman S, Loxton D, et al. Enhancing global control of alcohol to reduce unsafe sex and HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. Glob Health. 2009;5:16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1744-8603-5-16

Perkins R. Working girls: prostitutes, their life and social control. Australian studies in law, crime and justice no. 7. Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 1991. Available at: https://www.aic.gov.au/publications/lcj/lcj-7. Accessed on 02 May 2026.

Sex work is no crime. The Times of India. 2007. Available at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Opinion/Editorial/LEADER_ARTICLE_Sex_work_Is_No_Crime/. Accessed on 02 May 2026.

Downloads

Published

2026-06-30

How to Cite

Anamika, Saini, S. K., Singh, B., Mittal, S., & Kaur, M. (2026). Effectiveness of self-care interventional package in promoting sexual health among female sex workers registered with selected NGOs of Chandigarh. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 13(7), 3460–3466. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20262235

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles